Chapter 21
One month later.
"Eleven Wakandans were among the dead during a confrontation between the Avengers and a group of mercenaries in Lagos, Nigeria last month. The Wakandans who stay traditionally reclusive were on an outreach mission when the attack occurred."
"Our Peoples blood is split on foreign soil. Not only because of the actions of criminals but of the indifference of those who are chosen to stop them. Victory at the expanse of innocent lives. Isn't a Victory."
The News was paused after the speech of King T'Chaka of Wakanda. Even after that Steve could still hear a piece of news playing in the background. He followed the noise and it led to Wanda's room. Taking a look inside without seeming creepy he watched as Wanda and Daisy, who seemed joined at the hip in the last month, focused on the TV.
"What legal authority do enhanced individuals have to operate in Nigeria."
The News then proceeded to play a grainy clip of Rumlow being tossed through a building than to a clip from Months ago showing the destruction of Sokovia turning to dust. They didn't trust the two women and saw them as dangerous and it was clear why.
"It's my fault," Wanda whispered loud enough for the two to hear. He watched as Daisy pulled Wanda closer to her without no words spoken.
"That's not True," Steve stated as he leaned on the door frame as surveyed the couple.
"Turn the TV back on, they're being very specific about who and what is dangerous and it's clear what they are on about." She narrowed her sharp green eyes as she looked in his direction.
"I should have destroyed the bomb vest as soon as noticed it, long before we had to deal with it, if they should need to blame anyone it should at least include me" Daisy spoke up as Steve walked over to the woman.
"I was going to step in," Steve started as he pulled out the desk chair to sit facing the two. There was just something about them that made him feel like he should protect them. It could be the fact that he was more than triple their age or that he was seen as the leader and willing to protect the two younger members.
"Rumlow Spoke 'Buckys' name. Then I faltered and was a sixteen-year-old kid again. In Brooklyn. People were dying it's on me." He said as he looked solemn at the thought of his best friend in the hand of monsters.
"Then it's on us three then," Daisy said trying with no short to lighten the dim atmosphere. It was everyone who had a little bit of a play in the deaths of the people.
"This Job, we try and save as much as we can. Sometimes it doesn't mean everybody. If we can't find a way to live with it then the next time no one gets saved and the guilt would be more."
Wanda lead back into Daisy as they listened to the Captain talk. He always knew the right things to say at the worst of times. Just then they were surprised to see Visions walk through the wall of Wanda's room.
"Vision! we talked about this."
Wanda had taken Vision under her wing of sorts and tried and teach the android about the actions of Humans.
"Yes, well the door was open so I assumed that... Captain Rogers wanted to know when Mr Stark was arriving."
Daisy's eyed vision as he was something she could never seem to wrap her head around. But she couldn't help it as he seemed to be wearing normal clothes of a shirt and jeans but was still purple and grey and his unnerving British accent.
"Thank you, visions, we’ll be down." A few moments passed when no one seemed to do anything and look and the android who was standing in the room.
"Right, I'll use the door." As he walked to the door he stopped and turned around, "Apparently he's brought a guest." Visions too real eyes looked over at the three.
"Do you know who it is?" Daisy asked as she didn't feel like meeting anyone new today than she already did.
"The Secretary of State." Vision informed them before stalking out of the room. Daisy couldn't help but let out a small groan as she flopped on the bed behind her.
"Great, Government." But neither Wanda nor Steve looked back at her used to her small quips now. And she wasn't even dressed properly still in a long pyjama top and shorts.
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"Five years ago," Secretary Ross sighed, "I had a heart attack and dropped in the middle of my back swing." He motioned doing the swing with an invisible bat at the head of the conference table to the Avengers they all looked unamused at the story.
"Turned out to be the best round of my life, cause of thirteen hours of surgery with a triple bypass. I found something that forty years of being in the army had never thought me. Perspective."
Everyone was slight as they listened to the man speak to them with no idea how the conversation was going to end.
"The world owes the Avengers a debt, an unplayable one. You have fought for us that the average man wouldn't step up to do. Protected up with your lives yet while a great many of people see you as the hero some who prefer 'vigilantes'"
"What word would you use then, Mr Secretary?" Natasha's slightly raspy voice filled in the silence. He looked over at the spy.
"How about, Dangerous?" Everyone who seemed just about relaxed straightened up in their seats as they all locked eyes on the man who looked down on them.
"What would you call a bunch of US-based enhanced individuals who ignore Sovereign borders on a routine base? And Inflict there own will wherever they choose. Seem unconcerned about the damage they leave behind."
Ross began pacing back and forth before the board behind him flashed on and played a map.
"New York," he played images of the aliens' attack, people screaming in fear as they ran and took cover. Buildings getting destroyed by the Hulk. They all looked ashamed at the way it was handled even if some hadn't taken part in it.
"Washington, D.C." the next showed people running away as three shell carriers were burning above them. The Triskellion with smoke pouring out the side. A large carrier was plugged into the water and people screamed as they got dragged under by the water.
"Sokovia." The city was being lifted off the ground and buildings collapsed before being decimated to dust.
"Lagos," the Buildings were on fire as people sobbed and screamed. Sirens were wailing while showing people being pulled out of the buildings in bags or covered in burns.
Wanda looked away from the screen as Steve spoke up, "That's enough." The nodded at his partner to switch off the screen.
"For the past four years, you have operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That's an arrangement from the governments around the world that can no longer forgive and tolerate."
"Yet we have a solution." They watched as he was handed a thick amount of what looked to be legal documents. He placed it on the table coincidentally In. front of Wanda.
"The Sokovia Accords, approved by a hundred and seventeen countries. It states the Avengers shall no longer be a private organisation. Instead, they are to operate under the supervision of a United Nations panel. And only when this panel deems it necessary."
Daisy couldn't believe what she was hearing, she was to work under the government which was everything she didn't sign up to be. That's why she had joined to get away from the stiff rules of Hydra and into the Avengers where she could do what she wishes.
"The Avengers were made to make the world a safer place. I feel like we have done that." Steve was quiet when she spoke looking down at the glass table.
"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now." That was a question that neither of them know. While it was clear that Thor was on Asgard as he said so when he had left early on Daisy's birthday. But no one could be so sure. And Bruce had disappeared on a quinjet and no one seems to know where.
"Say if I were to misplace a couple of thirty megaton nukes. You can bet there to be consequences. Compromise, reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."
"So, there are contingencies." James Rhodes or more known as Rhodey and War Machine spoke up as he now had the copy of the Accords.
"Three days from now, in Vienna the UN meets to ratify the Accords. Talk it over." They two started to move out of the room.
"And what if we come to a decision that you don't agree with?" Daisy asked as she turned on her chair to face the man. He looked down at her eyebrows raised almost challenging her.
"You retire." Was his last world before the stalled out of the room with confidence they all stayed in complete silence.
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An hour later they all had made their way to the living room a try and sort the amount of new information that could harm the future of the Avengers.
"Okay let's say that we all agree. How long will it take for them to LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals?" Sam and Rhodey were both arguing on different sides of the argument while the rest looked on either amused or annoyed. Well, Daisy thinks that she might be the only one that seemed amused by the argument but she had taken Sams's's side in defence.
"Hundred and seventeen countries want to sign this, Hundred and seventeen Sam. And you just like, 'Oh no it's cool we got this'" Tony had his eyes closed as a hand rested on his forehead with annoyance and a possible headache while Steve had taken to flicking through the accords.
"So how long will it be until you stop playing for both sides, huh." Sam looked close to sizing up the older man as he began to move closer.
"I have an equation." Visions spoke up to break the fighting as all eyes landed on him. Daisy who was sitting behind Wanda with her head resting on her shoulder didn't need to look over so she looked ahead at the decor of the room.
"The the eight years that Mr Stark announced himself and Ironman the number of knowns enhanced individuals has grown exponentially. During the Sam period, the number of potentially world-ending events has also risen."
The captain looked up the page he was reading and studied the android with light eyes, "So you're saying it's our fault then."
Yet vision didn't look one bit offended by Steve's remark as he carried on, "I'm pointing out the fact that there may be a causality," there was a pause before he began, "Our very strength invites challenge. Which incites conflict. And well conflict...Breeds catastrophe."
"Oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand."
They all sat as they listened to the complexity of the Visions world. They all knew what he spoke was the truth. People with power would someday get corrupted and the enhanced already had one step forward over the government.
"Tony, you're being uncharacteristic, non-hyperverbal." Natasha pointed out, that Tony was a loud narcissist who would always talk his mind but now he mopped for the whole day.
"It's because he has made up his mind." Steven pointed out as he looked Over to Tony who was laying down in a less smart suit.
"You must know me so well then, Rogers." He manoeuvred himself up slowly rubbing the back of his head. "I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache. That's what's going on, Cap. Pain. Discomfort."
His mood has risen, Daisy could tell by the minuscule vibrations that were buzzing around in Tony's head as he moved into the kitchen.
"Who the hell is putting coffee grounds in the disposable?” He shouted as the sound of a mug was hitting the counter, “Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?”
He placed a monitor and the side to face the lot of them and showed a picture of a young man on a hologram.
“Oh, that, he’s Charles Spencer by the way. Great kid. Computer engineering with a three-point six GPA. Floor level gig at intel planned for the fall. But first, he wanted to put a few miles of his soul before he finally parked behind a desk. See the world and maybe be of service.” Tony leaned against the counter piping hot coffee in hand as he look at the rest with dark eyes.
“He didn’t want Vegas or Fort Lauderdale which is something I would do. No Paris or Amsterdam which sounds more fun. So he spent his summer building sustainable housing for the poor. Guess where Sokovia.”
He said the name of the city louder than the rest, the truth is that he hated himself for building Ultron. Everyone was silent as they didn’t know what to do with this newly revived information.
“He wanted to make a difference, we won’t know as a building was dropped on him. Or even know an inch of his work had done good because what Is left of the city, Nothing, like it ceased to exist.”
A melancholy air filled the room, everyone didn’t know what to speak for fear of my saying one thing that another sees out of line.
“There’s no point in the decision-making here. We need to be put in check! Whatever they do I’m game. If we can't come to expect these limitations or boundary-less it makes us no matter then the bad guys.”
Daisy hadn't realised it but she subconsciously pulled Wanda closer to her as Tony's voice began to raise above than it usually was. Wanda put one of her ringed hand's on top of Daisys that was settled around her stomach.
“Tony,” Steve started, “someone dies on your watch, you don't give up.” he chose to ignore the interruption by Tony, “If we take don't take responsibility for our actions then we give up. These documents just shift the blame.”
Steve was talking and knew exactly what he was talking about as he was the one that had read the Accord the most unlike anyone else in the room.
“Look, I'm sorry Steve. That is dangerously arrogant even for someone like you. This is the United Nations we are talking about here. Not World Security Council. Not Shield or Hydra.”
“No it's not Sam, but is run by people. People with agendas and scared of people like us.”
Steve looked up from the Accords as Tony began to speak, “That's good, that's why I'm here. When I realized what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands I shut it down and stop its manufacturing.” Tony stopped and stood to inform Steve.
“So they are good in the ‘right’ hands then?” Daisy asked, All eyes shifted to her as she spoke up.
“What do you mean by that?” Tony spit out his words as he looked at her with narrowed eyes.
She let out a laugh, “Your serious, right?” But Tony remained nonpullsed as he looked back at her with hands in his pockets. Extracting themself from behind Wanda, who was reluctant to let her go and stood in front of Stark.
“Twenty years S. I had manufactured weapons of all sorts. You only found out a few years ago. You didn't know that Hydra had a buyer and used them for their deeds and the look on your face says you still don't know that. When is a gun or a bomb ever right in anyone's hands? Think about it anyone can shoot a gun, or throw a grenade. Despite it, the motivation of hurting someone will be the same no matter who has the weapon.”
“You sat by for twenty years oblivious to the fact of what your weapons were used for. No background checks on the buyers. But for some reason, it was only until you were kidnapped that you realized what you could do. You had a choice to shut down S.I and you did but it's your actions that just don't sit right with me.”
The man looked back at her shocked at what he heard but decided to throw back, “So what, good have you ever done? A Hydra agent for your life, a sickly amount of blood on your hands. You don't talk with this Johnson. All you did was take down a city that I was planning to do. At least Romanoff hears managed to do good unlike you. Hydra doesn't change all they do is do anything for their good.”
This was unlike the Tony she knew, and his words did hurt her but she refused at admitting defeat against Tony.
“By signing This, we surrender our right to choose. I've been at the mercy of higher powers and I refuse to go back to that life.” she stared him down, “What of this Panel, I dunno, sends us to a place we don't want to go? Or what of a place where we need to go and they deem it unimportant.”
“No one's here is perfect I know my past and what I have on my hands. But we are the best bet to keep the people safe. There once was an idea I had. Kill all human life and leave the enhancement. And not like Rogers or Romanoff enhanced. But people like me and Wanda. The Inhumans and some over a group of people with powers I can't remember. And your lucky I didn't.”
“People like me won't answer to the government and be used as weapons. To be experimented on to make more of us. I will speak for us all if that's what I have to stop this and protect what I will without the tight hands of the government around me.”
Stark looked at her with condemning eyes and took in her words, “You can carry on doing your work but if we don't do it now it'll be done to us later. It won't be pretty.”
Daisy returned to her seat behind Wanda wanting the warmth of the woman to calm her nerves.
“You'll saying that they will come for me, us,” Wanda asked looking up at Stark with big green eyes judging his words.
“I'll protect you, Ljubav,” Daisy whispered into Wanda's ear as she felt her shiver slightly at her words. It might not be the best time for flirting but it might help lift Wanda's mood slightly.
“Look, Tony has a point. We have one hand on the wheel and can still steer take it off“ Natasha Started before being interrupted by Sam.
“You're the same woman who told the government to kiss their ass a few years back, Aren’t you?” Sam raised his eyebrow at the redhead. He knew she was good after fighting alongside her.
“I’m just doing what I deem correct. Dangerous people like us need to be pushed into a line. We made very public mistakes we need the trust back is we need to save them.”
Daisy was sure someone had replaced the Natasha she remembered. The ruthless government-hating ex-merc was almost played their golden children, guess people do change after time. Something wasn’t adding up.
“Did I hear you correctly or did you just agree with me?” Tony asked as he looked at Natasha.
“God, I wanna take it back now.” She moaned in fake annoyance as Stark shook his finger at her.
“Nope, can’t retract it,” He looked smugly at her, “I win.”
Daisy looked around as she felt the slight vibration of a phone going off but it wasn’t hers because Steve took it out of his pocket. She watched as his face fell and his blue eyes widened slightly.
“I need to go.” They all watched him leave as it was unlike Steve to leave during a meeting. He must have gotten something that had upset him too much but she didn’t want to be nosey as she and Steve weren’t on their terms yet
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Steve stood in the church along looking at the grey and black photo of the Woman that he had loved so dearly and managed to bring something out of him that no one else’s had. Nevertheless was glad that she lay to rest in a world of serenity.
Heels echoed through the rows of chairs and as he looked back he watched as Natasha moved closer to him.
“When I came out of the ice. I thought everyone I had known was gone. But when I found out she was alive, I was just lucky to have her even if it for a few years bound to a hospital bed.”
“She had you back, too.” Natasha was one of the lucky few to meet Peggy as she supported Barton's final decision to keep the spy and bring her into S.H.I.E.L.D shaping her a new life.
But they need to be to the point at hand, “Who else signed?” ever the outcome he at least needed one person to see his side.
“Tony, Rhodey, Vision.” He guessed them seeing as Rhodey was Tony's best friend and well he had made a vision.
“Barton?” He questioned, the man was back out with his family choosing to stay away from the drama.
“Calls himself Retired.” she skilled at that, He knew she loved Bartons children and sees it as the better option.
“Wanda and Pietro?”
“TBD, but with the current situation, I'm guessing following Daisy's opinion. And Pietro followed his sister.” ow he was intrigued.
“And what did Daisy pick?” if he was going to do things his way he would need someone like her at his side.
“Threatened to destroy the accords then stormed out the room after Tony called her Dangerous.” guess his answer was justified. He looked at Natasha for her answer yet probably already knows her answer.
“I'm off the Vienna for the signing of the accords. There's plenty of room on the jet.”
He had made up his decision and there was no turning back now.
“It may be a path of least resistance, doesn't mean. It's the wrong one. It's the staying together that's more important but by the current that won't is happening.” She gave him a small smile, it was true he could feel the gaps between the Avengers forming for a long time. It had been time happiness after the New York battle but as time passed they grew apart. They were built for the earth's protection and that's not every day something like that happens. S.H.I.E.L.D deals with the smaller events so he couldn't be what he was made for.
“What are we giving up to do then, look I'm Sorry Nat. I can't sign it.” He looked at her with blue eyes, his decision was final and that's all he cared about.
“I knew what your answer was and how annoyingly stubborn you could be. I just don't want you to be alone.”
She pulled him into a big with him having to lean down while she stood in her heels. She was a good person no matter what she chose even if he was a little put down at her signing these accords but she was a grown woman capable of her own words.
All that mattered was that he had Sam, Daisy and possibly the twins now he just need to find Bucky and make everything right once again.