Chapter 41
It took forty-seven minutes of speech. Two days after the Avengers had split, Russia’s people had willingly reinstituted the royal House Romanov, with Tsaritsa Natalia Romanova, and her American super soldier boyfriend Steve Rogers (the thing with Bruce hadn’t lasted, opposites attract but they didn’t stay together). And standing by her, her first cousin, Tsarina Yelena Belova, and distant cousin Baroness Eugenia Zemo, of the new Russian territory of Sokovia.
With two Avengers at its helm, the country expanded even more and even faster than America, led by an Avengers-sponsored president.
“Lilith, thank you for agreeing to meet.”
“No problem, President.”
“Please, I thought we were on a first name basis.” Julia Brant said.
“Then I’ll be very honest with you, President.” Lilith said, clasping her hands around her waist and leaning back. “We find ourselves at a bit of an impasse.”
“What do you mean, if you could speak bluntly?” Julia asked.
“I mean that we are at a metaphorical crossroads where our paths have just split. You not allowed the Paris Accords, the superhero registration act, to pass Congress, but also reach the UN, all while keeping it hush hush and off my radar. That’s not what friends do.”
“Are we friends?”
“Of course. We help each other out, we spend time together, we arrange for our kids to meet up, because Betty is as much as your kid, especially with her parents away on military duty.”
“Of course. No corrosion or bribery in the least.”
“Coercion is if I forcefully persuade you, and bribery implies money changing hands, which we have never had. Friends help each other out, but I think we’ve come to a point where that’s no longer possible.” Lilith said.
“You can forget the act, Mrs. Stark. I know nobody you don’t approve of and control is listening in. You hold the power, but you want something from me. Speak bluntly will you? I have enough of the political maneuvering, half-truths and roundabout speech as it is. Mostly my cabinet.”
“Alright then. You not only allowed but propagated and actively hid the Accords from me, and that is not what you agreed to do.”
“It’s not like you pay me.”
“No.” Lilith agreed. “But you can forget getting re-elected in 2016.”
“No Avengers support? The people love me for myself.”
“Oh no. I’m helping you out. Like a good friend. Julia, this will be the last presidential election the United States of America has. You will go down in history as a woman who did good then graciously stepped down to avoid power corrupting her.”
“And why am I doing that?”
“Because Tony is running. Not only that, but he will be the president who officiated the fall of the country.”
“You two are on the brink of divorce.” At Lilith’s look, Julia said, “I know what it looks like. My uncle was there when I was a teenager. And you two have it bad.”
“And guess what the straw that broke the camel's back was?”
“The Accords.” Julia gasped. “Why are you still helping me?”
“Because everyone loves you. You find uncontroversial solutions to controversial topics. It was you who suggested assimilating Mexico to solve the immigration issue and Canada as well to solve the issue of no space for clean energy production, since Arc Reactors only work in large cities. Julia, you helped me and I will continue helping you. I don’t throw away people. But you will withdraw, because if you don’t you will lose, and if you don’t you will fall.”
“Alright. They will ask me about your divorce. When are you filing the papers?”
“On Hermione’s first birthday, both as a play, and so that there will be no accusations of me cheating.”
“The public knows we’re friends. What should I say when the news gets out and they ask me?”
“Say that it has been fracturing for a while, and that some actions a marriage cannot survive.”
“They’ll assume Tony cheated.”
“They’ll assume Tony did something. From cheating to letting Ron have an Iron Man suit or bringing him to a fight. I don’t particularly care.” Lilith said. “Don’t worry. You’re good, and you’ll always have a place in the world, so will Betty and her parents.”
“As long as you live?”
“Don’t worry about me living, Julia. Enjoy your last month, start moving out by Halloween, and do tell Tony I said hello, though none of his kids did.”
“I will. I have been at the breakup phase, don’t worry.”
“In international political news, the proposed International Paris Accords or Superhero Registration Act has been announced, though the UN has pushed it back, and they’ll vote in 6 months to pass the international law.”
“Tsaritsa Natalia Aliana Alexeiovna Romanova, will you marry me?” Steve asked, down on one knee, the engagement ring glittering in it’s black velvet box.
“Yes, Steve, gladly.” She said, smiling as she pulled the ring on, and then kissed him.
She didn’t even watch to make sure the cameras got every moment.
“Do you, James Buchanan Barnes, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I, James Buchanan Barnes, do take thee, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, past when death do us part, I pledge myself, in all my entirety, to you. In short, I do.”
“And do you, Darcy Jade-”
“I do. I do take James Buchanan Barnes to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, past when death do us part, for all eternity, I pledge my whole self to you.”
They were glad it was Lilith officiating, because otherwise, the magical force of the unbearable vow being sealed through intent and blood would have knocked anyone else back, and their breath from their lungs. But Lilith pushed her own magic in.
Her sister's marriage would not fall apart as her own did. For Darcy and Bucky had the kind of love that would persevere.
Loki was about to get to Midgard. He had gone through Vanaheim, to throw off Hela, Jotunheim, going through the hated realm where all his problems started to throw off Thor, those two realms had very large prices on his siblings heads. And then Nidavellir, his seidr keeping him safe from the danger of the most distant passageway because he knew none but him, if they could track him this far, would attempt the same madness.
But he would’ve safe, and he would get to Midgard.
Gamora officially loved Pizza. She would live on Terra , on Earth, for the rest of her life if it meant that she could have Pizza time and time again. And also Peter. He was very important to her too. As was the team. But Pizza.