I'm Working with Ross?
“You sold us out, man . . . for fucking Ross,” Clint says, banging his fist on the clear partition of his cell between him and Tony.
“Hank said you should never trust a Stark,” the other man says nearby, shaking his head before he leans it back against the wall.
Tony just sighs, before dropping his chin to his chest. When he raises his head, Clint is smirking at him despite his anger.
“I’m going to try to explain things in small words for all of you since none of you seem to be the brightest crayolas in the box, but first, I have one simple question that might put things in perspective. Clint, why are you here? Why are you, Wanda, Sam, and . . . whoever this guy is, here?”
“Because you sold us out to Ross and his Accords,” Clint says, banging the cell wall again.
“OK. I’ll go slowly. I know they read you your rights on the way here. I know they told you that you were being held here while you wait for trial.”
“Look at Wanda,” Sam gestures angrily.
“Yes, she looks extremely pitiful right now. How did you think they would contain her if she were ever to break the law AGAIN—since we all know that she was working for a Neo-Nazi terrorist organization before she ever went to Lagos and killed people over there.” Tony held his hand up to stop Sam before he could even respond. “I’m not saying she did it on purpose, but you must know that entering that country outside of normal protocols and then participating in any type of mission was going to count as an act of terrorism, especially with her sordid little history with Hydra. That collar and the straight jacket are in place to protect the guards since little Miss Hydra Princess has an established history of attacking anyone that looks at her funny. Just ask Dr. Cho if you forgot that tidbit. If you do the crime, you do the time—and her powers make this necessary until something else can be put in place. If she didn’t want to suffer this humiliation, she should have never even considered breaking the law again.”
“The Accords are evil!”
“Yes, thank you, Clint. I’m sure you’ve given them a thorough read since you were already retired and NOT at the meeting when we were given the draft—the draft that pretty much no one had the opportunity to read before Cap and his second crony in command over there decided this was all an evil ploy rather than an agreement between Nations about how to handle groups that want to cross borders willy-nilly. But more importantly, they have not yet been signed into law.
Cap’s little crime spree began after the signing was disrupted with a bombing. The signing was, appropriately, postponed. You’re all here because you crossed into Germany illegally and then aided and abetted a known terrorist who was wanted under suspicion of YET ANOTHER act of terrorism, interfered with his detainment (by those of us now lovingly described as Team Iron Man), and destroyed an airport to the effect of more than few million dollars in property damage all to help him escape. Those are all . . . wait for it . . . CRIMES! You broke the law, dumbass. Of course, they put you in jail! You’re not here because of the Accords. And did you really think that I was going to join you in a crime spree despite my status as the multi-billion dollar CFO and R&D head of SI? I am a public figure. That type of decision would have MASSIVE repercussions for thousands of employees as well as international economies the world over. I don’t have that type luxury, Clint. And I’m also much too smart.”
“Barnes is innocent,” Sam threw out.
“Yes, NOW I know that, and have now gotten evidence to that effect. That doesn’t discount the crimes he did commit as he ran from the law rather than calmly turning himself in. It also doesn’t matter because you didn’t have any proof of that at the time, and you helped him run from the authorities rather than helping him prove his innocence.”
“There was a shoot on sight order,” Sam added, crossing his arms.
“There was only ever a shoot on sight order for you and Steve, after your idiotic chase, which is why I BEGGED to be the one to bring you in. Who told you that?”
Sam looked shifty for a moment before sighing.
“Steve has a . . . connection . . . in counterterrorism.”
Tony looked at him drily for a moment. “Do you mean Sharon Carter? Because she would do just about anything to make Steve notice her and feel like he owes her a favor. Things like give him inside, classified information, with maybe a dash of exaggeration for effect thrown in, or even pass you guys equipment that was supposed to be locked up in evidence. It’s called being desperate, Sam. She’s been creaming her panties over Cap since she was an adolescent. Neither Howard nor Peggy did anyone in their families any favors with their inability to let go of the past—and Steve has the same problem.”
“That doesn’t excuse you working with Ross,” Clint yelled.
“I’m not working ‘with Ross’ you stupid fucker! I’m working with the Secretary of State! It’s an elected position. Ross has held that position for 7 years now. Ellis will be out of office next year AND ROSS WILL GO WITH HIM since the Secretary of State is selected by the President—no accounting for Ellis’s taste. Do you even know anything about the government of the country you live in. Even if he were involved, even remotely, with the Accords, he’ll be out of office long before he has any impact in the types of evil dictator decisions that you dumbasses want to assign him. It’s like you think Ross is some type of all-powerful overlord instead of the Avenger’s boogeyman that he really is. Ross has only ever been a threat to Bruce, and that was when he was still an Active Duty General. He’s retired, and his political career will be over very soon as well. Honestly.” Tony shook his head and walked away. He didn’t have time for this shit.