Chapter 5
Five
Accords Council
Tony swallowed as he was delivered the subpoena to come to the Accords Council.
He was in the hospital, visiting Rhodey, and they found him.
He sighed as Rhodey turned concerned eyes to him.
“Tones, what is that?” Rhodey asked.
“Subpoena for the Accord Council. I have to answer for the events during the Civil War.” He quietly told him.
“And will Rogers be there too?” Rhodey asked.
“No. No one knows where he is.” Tony answered.
“So, you have to shoulder all responsibility yet again?” Rhodey growled.
“Hey, honeybun.” Tony tried to reassure him. “Don’t worry. I want you to do what your doctors tell you and get used to the braces. I am so sorry that this is needed. It’s all my fault.” Tony’s throat tightened as he took in Rhodey in bed.
“Tony, my legs aren’t your fault.” Rhodey tried to reassure. “It was always a chance that the suit would go down. I am still alive. I’m good.” He smiled at him. “Anyways, how’s Pepper?” He asked.
“Oh, right. I didn’t tell you.” Tony said sheepishly.
“Tell me what?” Rhodey prompted.
“Pepper left me. A couple of months ago.” He admitted.
“What?” He yelped, jolting in his hospital bed.
“Yeah.” Tony awkwardly scratched the back of his head. “She’s dating Happy now.”
“Happy Hogan?” Rhodey’s eyebrow rose. “Your driver?”
Tony shrugged.
“Tony.” Rhodey murmured. “Did you buy the ring yet?”
Tony looked down.
“Does she know?” Rhodey asked, sadly.
“No. I didn’t want to make Pepper feel like she had to stay. I know I’m a lot to deal with.” Tony shrugged.
“You are a lot, but there are a lot of good things in there too.” Rhodey tried to reassure his best friend.
Tony looked uncomfortable with the emotions conversation, so Rhodey didn’t want to push it further.
“I have to get back to my tower and start accumulating my defense.” Tony got to his feet and laid his hand on Rhodey’s shoulder.
“I’m glad you’re alright, man,” Tony said thoughtfully. “I’d hate to retrain a new BFF.” He said jokingly.
Rhodey put his hand on Tony’s, still resting on his shoulder.
“I’m glad you’re okay too, Tony,” Rhodey stated seriously.
Tony sighed as he made his way to the Accords Council, tablet grasped under his arm.
“Dr. Stark.” A messenger called him. “They’re ready for you.”
Yeah, not ominous at all.
He sighed and made his way into the room, which felt more like he was facing a firing squad.
He sat in the defense seat and put his tablet in front of him.
“Dr. Stark. You are brought before the Council to discuss the events of the “Civil War” and what events transpired afterward, which resulted in Captain America and the Winter Soldier to escape.” A councilperson stated.
“Okay.” He said, tone nonchalant.
“Let us discuss the Raft.” She looked at her tablet.
“Fine.” His tone was petty.
“Your team brought Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, Sam Wilson, and Scott Lang to the Raft to be held.”
“Eventually.” He started. “I was told to bring them to a detainment facility. I had no idea it was the Council’s idea to bring them to the Raft.” He stated.
“That was never agreed upon.” The councilperson stated.
Tony had a confused look on his face.
“Alright…” Tony said hesitantly. “Regardless, it seemed a little extreme, I trusted most of them – enough to be teammates with – and they wouldn’t intentionally kill anyone, I can’t say that for the rest of the Raft residents. That was meant to be a maximum-security prison for the enhanced. Inescapable.”
“Wanda Maximoff is a significant person of concern to the Council, while we thought the Raft was a bit extreme, Miss Maximoff should have been left there, as the Sokovian government wanted. After Captain America left Siberia, he rescued his team from the Raft, including Miss Maximoff.” The councilperson continued.
They seemed to want Tony to say something, but Tony just stared at them.
“Do you have anything to say to that?”
“What would you like me to say?” Tony replied, tone biting.
“Your defense.” They growled.
“My defense of what? I had them brought to the detainment facility as ordered. I was given thirty-six hours to bring in Rogers and Barnes. I failed, I was dying in the snow in Siberia, and that is my defense.” He stated coldly, folding his arms across his chest.
“I think we all need to have a cooler head.” A feminine voice appeared from behind Tony.
The woman who spoke had vibrant green skin, dark green lips, and hair so dark a shade of green that it was almost black.
“Who are you?” Ross sniped out. He was looking slightly on edge, Tony noted.
“My name if Jennifer Walters, and I am a lawyer. I have been chosen by the people to represent them in this Accords fiasco, and it seems that it is starting with Dr. Stark.” She stated, pulling out the chair next to Tony and setting her briefcase on the table in front of her, zipping it open and pulling out a manila folder. “The citizens are truly the victims of all this drama.” She sniffed.
“Who chose you?” Ross growled. “I certainly wouldn’t have voted for you.” He snarled.
“Is that regarding the fact that I am a woman, that I am enhanced, or that I am Bruce Banner’s cousin?” She arched a brow. “Regardless, I was hired by the previous leader of the Avengers and specifically hired for this meeting by Pepper Potts, Stark Industries’ CEO.”
Ross blustered, but the Council looked at each other before a young woman of African descent rose and asked the questions that they all had on their minds.
“What does Bruce Banner have to do with this?” She asked.
“Ross hired Bruce and some other scientists, to try and recreate the super-serum of Captain America.” Jennifer started.
“How did he have the resources to arrange that?” She asked astonished.
“He didn’t. The government did.” Jennifer stated. The whispers started up, and Jennifer continued. “Bruce was caught in an explosion of gamma radiation and turned into the Hulk. Ross wanted to capture him and continue experimenting on him, and Ross eventually found a test subject in Blonsky. Blonsky was a soldier from the British army. Ross then captured Bruce by dangling his daughter, whom Bruce loved, in front of Bruce, forcing Bruce to allow a small amount of blood to be withheld from him and Blonsky was to be injected with, to be on Hulk’s level. Ross and Abomination, which was Blonsky’s alter-ego’s name, broke Harlem, not Hulk.” Jennifer gathered some papers and tapped them on the desk. “It seems that Secretary Ross cannot help but be biased towards Bruce at the very least and capable of great destruction with knowledge of enhanced persons DNA at best.”
“And what do you have against the Hulk? You seem very fixated.” Another representative asked Secretary Ross.
“He is an abomination! He deserves to be taken down!” He shouted, getting to his feet. “Now, see here!” He bellowed. “I was a founding member of these Accords! I wanted these…beings held to some kind of standard!”
“They’re people, just like me and just like you. And they should be allowed their own lives, their own identities and some regulation, I agree. But to inhumanely treat them as lower than homo sapiens is cruel and unwarranted. Dr. Stark here saved the Earth by redirecting a missile into a black hole against an alien army.”
“Yeah, yeah, everyone fucking loves Stark! Well, what about the real heroes? The men going overseas and fighting the good fight?” Ross declared.
“While I do not discredit our military forces, our men and women are most definitely heroes, and I do not mean to disparage their sacrifices. I am simply stating that these enhanced individuals have also done heroic things for our country and our world. And they should be held to laws, like everyone else, but fair ones.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Ross slammed his hands onto the table and stood up. “Are we just going to let some green bitch steamroll all over us?!” He bellowed.
“Us?” The young girl asked. “It seems that she is bringing up some facts about your past that you’d rather she not, Secretary Ross. Do you have something to hide?”
“She’s lying!” He exclaimed.
“We all saw the evidence of the Harlem fight…Abomination is held in the Raft, which…Who built that again?” The girl responded with.
The other councilmembers were silent. It was a rumor that Ross had built it with government funds, but no one knew for sure.
“Look…” the African girl started speaking. “We should have checks and balances. That is how America works; does it not?” She asked.
“It does,” Jennifer confirmed. “The will of the people are communicated through their representatives, and the government shouldn’t have too much influence on the free will of the people.”
“So, is it not good that a lawyer is here?” She looked around her councilmembers, and they all nodded along with her.
“No! The Council should appoint the lawyer!” Ross firmly stated. “I have a handful of lawyers that would be happy to represent anyone!”
“And I am sure that they are not in your pocket, so to speak.” Jennifer sarcastically commented.
“Listen, you green-tinted little…” Ross started and was interrupted.
“Enough.” The African girl stated firmly.
“Princess Shuri…” Ross started. Jennifer’s eyebrow rose. Princess?
“I am unsure what your motives are with this little tantrum of yours, Secretary Ross.” Shuri raised an eyebrow.
“Tantrum…” He grumbled, offended to the highest order.
“We are getting off-track,” Jennifer stated. “Dr. Stark stated his team was ordered by the Council to bring the obtained Avengers to the Raft. Princess Shuri stated this was incorrect. Dr. Stark, who gave your team the order?” She asked, turning to him.
“Ross.” He answered.
“Secretary Thaddeus Ross or Everett Ross?” She asked.
“Secretary Ross.” Tony clarified.
“And who gave you the order of thirty-six hours to bring back two super soldiers when you are not enhanced but are enhanced by your suit of armor, causing you to be in danger?” Jennifer asked.
“Now, see here…” Ross threatened.
Jennifer raised a hand, and Ross was so offended that no sound came out of his mouth.
“It was Secretary Ross.” Chatter started up in the room, and Jennifer pressed on.
“And what were the consequences of you going to Siberia? Mental, physical, emotional. Please remember that all Council meetings are streamed and translated into every language, so anything admitted or said in this room, will be recorded and used as evidence for all future cases.”
Tony inhaled and breathed out.
“Rogers disabled my suit, misjudging his strength, I assume, and my chest was significantly damaged. I was unable to disengage my suit. I was stuck sitting in the snow until rescue came.” He hesitated.
“Yes?” Jennifer pressed.
“An enemy of Rogers, who lost family in Lagos, showed me a video of the Winter Soldier, Barnes, killing my parents.” He stated. The room hushed instantly, shocked by the news. “It was a cover-up by HYDRA, and Rogers knew but didn’t tell me. Which, fine, we are all entitled to our secrets, but it was shown to me in Siberia. I was emotionally incapacitated.”
“And the injuries that you received. Were you able to get medical treatment? Remember, you would be guilty of perjury if found lying.” She repeated as she saw Tony hesitate.
“I got rescued by my AI and an intern of mine in Germany with me. I was brought to the plane unconscious. I wouldn’t have made it to the hospital.” He swallowed. “I synthesized a formula of the Extremis formula – which the Council is aware of – to repair me if a near-death situation arose…And the kid was worried enough about my situation, that he did that. I am now an enhanced individual.”
Chatter broke out again, and Jennifer rose her hand after a minute of discussion.
“If you were not instructed to bring in Rogers and Barnes by Secretary Ross, would you have gone to Siberia and gotten injured anyways?”
“No,” Tony answered.
“What kind of enhanced are you?” Ross seemed to be particularly interested in that part of the story. No remorse. Tony sneered at him.
“My law expertise is generally focused around human rights issues. Safety. Good working conditions. I would like to hold this Council to humane standards, going forward and working on making the Accords as fair as possible.”
The Council nodded.
“That is our intent.” One agreed verbally.
“This is preposterous.” Ross looked around at his fellow council people in disgust. “You are letting these two people change what the Accords were meant to do? All the work I’ve put into this?” He slammed his hands on his desk, getting to his feet.
“So, you admit to doing things that the Council wouldn’t approve of?” Tony asked him.
“I did everything with the approval of the Council.” Ross hissed through his teeth.
“I do not remember agreeing to torturing and holding citizens of any country on a raft in the middle of the ocean without any chance of freedom because they sneezed wrong,” Shuri stated. She looked at those around her. “Am I wrong?”
“No.” Other representatives agreed with Princess Shuri.
“That is the opposite of what this Council was created to do.” Shuri leveled a stare at Ross, who didn’t say anything.
“I think I speak for the people of America when I say that Secretary Ross has committed many crimes against the safety of the human race – this is a human rights violation. I move for Secretary Ross to be removed from the Accords council. I am afraid of multiple levels of the main documents of the Accords would be exploited for Secretary Ross’ personal and inhumane goals.” Jennifer stated. “Who seconds my motion?”
“You can’t do this! Just because you’re screwing Tony Stark doesn’t give you the right to destroy my life like this!” Ross shouted, getting to his feet.
“Allegedly screwing Tony has nothing to do with the fact that you’re an immoral douchebag. And I spent eighteen years after law school taking down tools like you.” She stared down Ross, not giving an inch.
“Seconded,” Shuri stated the votes for getting Ross out of the Accords council being overwhelming voted for. They only need a two-thirds vote. And it was overwhelmingly voted for.
“The movement has passed.” A secretary informed the room. The other council people nodded satisfactorily.
“You pitiful, insignificant people! I got those Avengers captured, so what if Stark died?” He shouted. “I wish he did. I wish that any of you had the guts to do what I did! To do what had to be done!”
“You’re lucky I don’t sue you for recklessly endangering Dr. Stark’s life!” Jennifer boomed. Ross glared at her. “Be grateful you’re just kicked off the council.” She sneered.
“I’ll get you for this, Stark. Mark my words.” Ross growled. Tony held up his hands innocently.
“Threats as well. Noted.” Jennifer evenly stared at the Secretary, not moving as he advanced on her, nowhere near her when Shuri alerted security.
“Guards!” Shuri shouted. And armed men forcibly removed Ross from the room.
“Now, Secretary Ross is still a representative of the US Government, so he still has power, but with the Accords, he won’t have as much,” Jennifer stated happily, now that Ross was gone. What a monster. “I have many issues with the Accords as they stand, I am looking forward to working with everyone to create a safe and humane set of regulations for any enhanced individual, myself included.”
Jennifer shuffled some papers.
“Now, we should meet next week to truly hash out the statutes to make them as fair as we can make it. We do not want to control the enhanced individuals in any way but make it safer for them and the citizens with some grounding principles. And above all else, make them ethical.”
“We look forward to other viewpoints to make the Accords as perfect as we can make it.” Princess Shuri inclined her head in agreement. “We look forward to your presence as well, Dr. Stark.”
“Lunch?” Jennifer tossed her hair in Tony’s direction.
“I’m down,” Tony smirked back at her as he got to his feet as the Accords meeting came to a close.
“There’s a Thai place down the road.” Jennifer gathered her papers and put them back into the briefcase.
“Sounds good to me,” Tony replied.
Soon, they were sat in the booth and ordered some spring rolls and dumplings to start.
“So, Jennifer, do you turn pale, or is it more of green all the time type thing?” Tony asked as he sipped his water.
“Green life is the only life.” She winked.
“How has Bruce not mastered that yet?” Tony asked. Jennifer frowned.
“Bruce has had a hard life.” Jennifer started. “His dad was abusive, not only to his mom but him. All types; emotional, mental, physical. He finally made it to college and never talked to his parents if he could help it. I kept in contact with him. I tried to tell my parents about it, but they thought I was exaggerating.” She sipped at her iced tea. “He was so angry as a teenager, so destructive. I think that Bruce is trying to keep a firm wall between his angry self and his calm self, instead of embracing the other part of his personality.”
“He must be really angry,” Tony commented. He grabbed a dumpling with chopsticks and popped it in his mouth.
“Very angry. He’s super smart but kind of dumb when it comes to emotions.” Jennifer laughed honestly.
Tony laughed.
“So, let’s talk about the Accords. You don’t seem the type to trust the government, let alone get behind being governed by said government.” Jennifer pondered.
“Yeah, I’m not.” Tony sighed. “When I guided that missile into space, I saw something.” He stared off into space. “We are not ready. I kept trying to tell the other Avengers about the things I saw, but none believed me. We need to get Earth ready for a multi-world war, and I felt that the Accords was the best way to get a team ready. Then it all just kind of fell apart, and I don’t know if I stand behind them anymore.” He commented. “They don’t stand behind me.”
“Well, perhaps we could work together and create an Accords that we could get behind.” Jennifer offered, taking a bite of her food.
“I have a lot going on, and I’m not sure I have a lot of time to spend on the Accords personally.” He told her honestly.
And it was right, and he had to worry about Peter and Harley, Pepper, SI, even if he wasn’t the CEO, he didn’t want to have to worry about the Accords as well. As well as his own physical and mental health.
And he is gaining control of his new powers.
Not fun.
“How about we schedule a meeting for next week or the week after and discuss it?” Jennifer got to her feet as they split the bill evenly.
“You can send me an email to SI email address, and I’ll let FRIDAY know that you’re okay to let through.” Tony smoothed out his suit jacket as he stood.
“FRIDAY?” Jennifer asked.
“My AI. It’s in my residence. I don’t do well with PA’s.” He smiled humorlessly. “So, I made one.” He shrugged.
“Impressive.” And Jennifer was impressed. Not many could make AI’s, but it seems that was one of the things that Tony Stark excelled at.
Tony shrugged.
“I used to be proud of my AI’s,” Tony stated, lost in thought.
“But not anymore?” Jennifer asked.
“Well, I can’t make any improvements to FRIDAY or any other AI that I designed, per the Accords, let alone make another one,” Tony said, disgusted in that piece of legislation.
“Perhaps that is where we should start.”
“I would like that.” He agreed, holding a hand to shake, as their lunch meeting wrapped up. Her warm green hand wrapped around his and shook it firmly.
He walked outside with Jennifer and double-tapped his arc reactor on his chest, the suit shifting through his bones to wrap around him effortlessly.
Jennifer watched as his designer suit became the Iron Man suit almost effortlessly. She worked hard to keep her mouth from gaping. The mask settled over his face, and eyes lit up blue.
“Toodles.” His filtered voice came through the mask as he shot into the sky, leaving Jennifer on the floor, her hand keeping the sun out of her eyes. She smiled, shook her head, and made her way to her car.
He was something else. But he would be someone that would be good to have on the Accords team.
Jennifer’s phone buzzed.
Incoming call from Unknown.
She slid her finger across the screen, holding the phone up to her ear.
“Walters.” She answered.
“Jennifer.” Fury’s voice came through the phone. “Any success?”
“Moderately.” She answered. “I got Ross off the Council; we’ll need a replacement. Stark’s on the fence about joining.”
“I bet he is. His plate is full these days.” Fury murmured. “Ross is a good step. Good work. Glad I chose the right person.”
“I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it because it’s the right thing to do. Don’t think because you paid the fees that I’ll do it just to keep you happy. This is for mutants, enhanced, and the public’s protection.” Jennifer’s voice was sharp.
“What if I give you more?” Fury asked.
“My answer will be the same, but I’d thank you for the new wardrobe upgrade,” Jennifer smirked.
“That’s why I like you, Walters. I’ll be in touch.” Then the other side of the conversation ended.
She pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at the call ended popping across the screen.
She rolled her eyes.
“Sure. Goodbye to you too, you one-eyed pirate.” She snarked to herself as she put her phone in her Coach purse and pulled out her keys and settled herself in her seat, buckling herself in and starting the car.