Sparing
Phase 2 complete.
Few Weeks Later:
“Alright class.” Tony starts, clapping his hands together and sticking out his tongue. “Here is the situation: As predicted, Rogers and his “secret” missions are a complete disaster. Even with Wanda’s heads up, I can’t evacuate the location they storm in, guns blazing, in time and they cause a millions worth of property damage, while just taking down some fuckers with normal guns…”
“I have heard about that even over in The West…” Rhodey says, looking disgusted. “Why people consider Rogers a tactical genius is beyond me…”
“The Governments had enough with The Avengers running around The Earth without authorization and are finally doing something about it.” Tony continues, grinning over at Ultron. “Junior, if you would be so kind..”
“Don’t call me Junior…” Ultron mutters, making Wanda slightly wince at the sound of his voice, making Tony put a calming and reassuring hand at her thigh.
“Thanks.” Wanda mouths to him, making him smile at her and nod, before looking back at Ultron, who is already materializing holograms in front of them.
“The Sokovia Accords are a new legal document, currently approved by more then 80 countries.” Ultron starts to explain. “I would highly recommend to read them for yourselves, but they basically ban every sort of vigilantism and focus on control, regulation, oversight and employment of enhanced individuals.”
“They Accords were created with mostly The Avengers in mind.” Friday interjects, appearing next to Ultron in her new, violet holographic form of a young girl, wearing white and black tactical suit. “The Avengers will no longer be a private organization. Instead, they will operate under the supervision of the UN panel.”
“Since The UN will be officially taking over The Avengers, Stark Industries could stop the founding without PR nightmare.” Tony smirks, in victory. “The real question is what about us? Are we signing or not?”
“I will have to sign.” Rhodey noted, looking over the floating hologram. “From what I see, if I will want to continue operating as War Machine, it will be necessary, and since I am Air Force Colonel, nothing will really change for me.”
“I will sign as well.” Vision states, looking at his creator. “I understand the need of oversight and don’t have any problem working with proper authorities...”
“What about you?” Wanda asks, looking uncertainly at Tony. “Are you going to sign as well?”
“No, I’m not.” Tony says, shaking his head. “I will support The Accords and everything they stand for, but there is no real reason for me to personally sign, since I am not in active Superhero business anymore... It would probably just put limitations on my current lifestyle.”
“And I need to be registered as well.” Friday says, pouting a bit over at Tony. “The creation of self-aware artificial intelligence is completely prohibited, so…”
“What about him?” Wanda asks, hesitantly pointing at Ultron. “He is an AI as well, is he not?”
“I am.” Ultron answers, titling his head to the side. “But my existence is not a public knowledge and would probably just cause more harm then good. So, no. I don’t need to be registered.”
“What about Emma?” Rhodey asks, looking over at Tony. “She is a Mutant and has super powers, just like the rest of her students at the Xavier’s school. Will she and them sign as well?”
“The deal with the Mutants is little more complicated.” Tony says, grimacing in discomfort. “I have spend this last couple of weeks negotiating with The UN committee for Mutant’s rights and we eventually found a common ground.”
“He means we forced their hands.” Friday corrects grinning over at Tony. “Blackmail, Bribery, Sex…”
“Okay!” Tony exclaims, glaring at Friday. “The point is that The Mutants aren’t going to be handled separately and will count as normal enhanced. If they want to sign and work for their country, they can. If they don’t, then they don’t.”
“What about you Wanda?” Vision asks, brining all of the attention to her. “Will you sign as well?”
“I don’t know…” Wanda admits, looking down at the ground. “I want to help people, but I don’t like some of those.. regulations.”
“That can be negotiated over.” Tony says, looking at Wanda in understanding. “The Accords aren’t set in stone and The UN committee is ready to negotiate with those who sign, about the alterations to the Accords, just point out what you don’t like and we will take a look over it.”
“Oh…” Wanda trails off, not really expecting that. “What about Steve and the others? Do you think they will sign?”
“Not a chance in hell.” Tony chuckles. “If I have learned something during these past 4 years, then it is that Steve Rogers can’t adapt to changes. He likes working without oversight and won’t submit to any authorities. Plus, I’m sure that if he doesn’t want me to know what he is really doing, he won’t want The UN to know as well.”
Wanda thinks for a moment before nodding. “I will sign.”
“Good!” Tony grins, starting to walk towards the doors. “Come with me, Red.”
“Where are we going?” Wanda asks, walking behind him with curious expression.
“Did you know that I am an expert to hand-to-hand combat?” Tony asks, opening the doors for them. “I prefer boxing, but I can keep up with even the likes of Barton without the suit.”
“I didn’t know that.” Wanda admits, looking impressed.
“Not many people do.” Tony sighs, leading them towards his elevator. “But what do they expect? My Godmother was the first Director of SHIELD. She was training me since I was 8 years old.”
“Where are we going?” Wanda repeats, looking even more confused and curious, as to where he is heading with this revelation.
“You think I didn’t notice this?” Tony asks, pointing at Wanda’s bruised neck and smirking. “I am going to teach you how to kick Black Widow’s sexy, double faced ass… or at least not get completely destroyed by her.”
Wanda just blinks at him as the elevator doors close and the elevator starts moving downwards.
****
Steve sighs, turning the TV off. He admits, their missions could’ve gone better, but they simply can’t save everybody. Steve is also feeling frustrated because Tony still refuses to talk, or even meet with them.
It has also been months, since Tony delivered some new upgrades of their equipment and Stark Industries keeps putting more and more limitations on their founding.
Yes, Tony proved that The Avengers need him to normally operate, Steve just wishes that The Genius would stop being difficult. They need Tony’s equipment and resources, and they need them yesterday!
To make things even worse, Rhodey and Vision started to distance from The Team even more then before, something that rings warning bells in Natasha, who thinks that maybe there is something bigger going on behind the scenes.
Steve isn’t really sure what she meant by that, but even he noticed the way Vision and Rhodey keep mostly to themselves at The Compound and the only person they really talk with is just Wanda.
Speaking of Wanda, Steve really wonders where she keeps disappearing for the whole days.
Sam thinks that she really found herself a secret boyfriend and spends time with him, while Natasha doesn’t really care, as long, as Wanda isn’t causing them any problems.
“Steve!” Natasha calls out, quickly rushing towards the room and showing him a photo on her phone. “We have another issue.”
“Rumlow.” Steve growls under his breath with a glare on his face. “Where was this taken from?”
“Lagos.” Natasha answers, also glaring at the photo, before meeting Steve’s eyes. “According to my sources, he is there to steal a bio weapon from the police force.”
“Where are Sam and Wanda?” Steve immediately questions, looking around them with narrowed eyes.
“Sam is already preparing The Quinjet, and as for Wanda… She didn’t return to the Compound ever since she left in the morning and isn’t picking up her phone.”
Steve frowns, shaking his head before taking a deep breath and looking determined. “We can’t afford wait for her and risk Rumlow getting away. Let’s go.”
****
“Stop trying to overpower me in the brute force.” Tony lectures, picking Wanda up off the ground for what she was sure was the hundredth time that day.
Wanda groans, letting herself being picked up by him, feeling annoyed, embarrassed and also slightly turned on.
She honestly thought that Tony was little over praising himself, but she can honestly confirm, that Tony is an incredible fighter. He isn’t as hard with her as Natasha is. Tony is clearly holding back his punches and moves slower, then he probably normally would.
“How am I supposed to beat you, if I can’t overpower you?” Wanda asks, pushing herself to fighting pose.
“What the hell has been Romanoff teaching you?” Tony questions with a frown on his face, holding his hands up in timeout. “Don’t move.”
Wanda listens and Tony approaches her, circling her and then walking behind her, grabbing her by hips and kicking her feet more apart from themselves. “Pull your hands more upwards and keep your feet slightly more apart, that way your punches will he more powerful.”
Wanda nods, doing just that, as Tony walks back in front of her and nods, getting into his own fighting position. “Don’t try to overpower me. You are smaller, use it and be quicker. Try outsmarting me.”
“Outsmart Tony Stark.” Wanda sarcastically repeats in disbelief, giving him a look. “Really?”
Tony sighs, his head falling down as he shakes his head."Let's try a different tactic. Close your eyes."
“Seriously?” Wanda deadpans, looking irritated. “I can’t even block your attack with my eyes open and now you want me to fight with closed eyes? I can lay down on the ground myself, so you won’t have to knock me down again, you know.”
“Just listen to me." Tony says, scratching his nose, starting to feel annoyed with her.
Wanda glares at him for a moment before closing her eyes and spitting out “Fine.”
Tony smiles to himself as he got to admire her for a minute without her looking. It’s a middle of a summer, so Wanda is only wearing tight yoga pants and black tank top, that hugs her body perfectly, leaving little to the imagination and Tony had a very good imagination.
“I can feel you staring.” Wanda says, her eyes still closed, but small smirk placed on her face.
“I know.” Tony smirks to himself, starting to circle around her, getting a good look on her ass. “Focus on my voice Wanda, you need loosen up. You keep thinking to hard about your every move, and that’s what holds you back. Don’t thinking about it. Take a deep breath and when I tell you to open your eyes… be ready to rip me apart.”
Wanda furrowed her eyebrows, something about the sound of his voice made it sound so easy, that She did in fact relax a but, suddenly being more aware of her surroundings, despite having closed eyes.
“Open.” Tony commanded, darting forward.
Wanda quickly dodged under his punch, jabbing him into ribs, causing him to take a step back, before spinning behind him, hitting him in the back and temporarily stunning him, as he hunches slightly forwards. This gave her enough time to flip him onto his back and land on top of him in a fluid of insanely fast motions
“Well done.” Tony praises, grinning at her. “Widow won’t know what hit her.”
Wanda breaths heavily, resting her hand in his chest, feeling proud, but also really turned on, seeing as close their faces are. Her eyes travel to his lips, before back to his eyes. His eyes follow her direction, before lustfully clouding.
They slowly start leaning in…
“Boss?” Friday startles them, appearing next to them with sheepish smile. “Sorry to interrupt whatever this is, but… Mr. Daniel Sausa is on the line, asking to talk with you. It’s urgent.”
Wanda licks her lips, pushing herself off him and offering him a helping hand that he takes, giving her an awkward smile in return, before turning towards Friday and nodding. “Put him through.”
Friday nods and next to her appears hologram with Daniel Sausa’s saddened face. “Tony. Is good to see you again, Son.”
“Hello Uncle Dan.” Tony greets back, pointing over at Wanda. “That’s Wanda, my-“
“I’m calling about Peggy, Tony.” Daniel quickly interjects, making Tony immediately shut up, as his eyes widen in panic. “It’s bad… The Doctors don’t believe she will live to see another week.I thought you would like to say goodbye...”
Tony purses his lips into a thin line, but Wanda can see and sense, that he is hurting and is having an inner conflict. “She doesn’t even remember me, Uncle Dan…”
“I won’t force you into anything, but I would really appreciate if you came…” Dan says, giving him a small smile. “She might not remember you, but you can still say goodbye.”
Tony’s masks breaks, as he looks down at the ground and nods. “I will be there tomorrow morning.”
“See you then.” Daniel says with a more brighter smile and hangs out.
“See you…” Tony mutters, still looking down, before taking a deep breath and turning towards Wanda with begging expression. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but… could you come with me?”
“Of course.” Wanda agrees, placing her hand on his shoulder. “For what it’s worth… I’m really sorry.”
“Me too.” Tony whispers, trying to hold his tears back. “Me too…”