The Avengers should not have covered for Tony
This is an interesting theory that basically if the Avengers had come forward and forced Tony to face the consequences of using the scepter, that the suffering of the universe could've been avoided. There's no guarantee that things would have been perfect, but there's a good chance they wouldn't have been nearly as bad without Tony Stark in the mix.
Note: Set after Age of Ultron, but Bruce stayed on Earth and Thor didn’t leave right away.
***
Steve looked around the conference room at the grim faces. He asked, “Are we sure about this? After we take this step there's no going back.”
He looked to Bruce and Wanda and said, “This will put you in the spotlight. Are you ready for that?”
Bruce said, “Tony and I were incredibly reckless. I’m ready to take responsibility for my actions--and make sure Tony is held accountable for his. Ultron could have nuked the planet, and almost used Sokovia to destroy it. Tony LAUGHED. We have to draw a line.”
Wanda said, “I understand, and I am also ready. It was wrong of me to give all of you visions. I did not expect the Hulk to travel to Johannesburg. From the footage I’ve seen, Bruce cannot be held responsible for that. But Stark--HE is responsible for Ultron having access to the internet. Pietro paid the price. It is time Stark did as well. He should NOT simply walk away as if none of it mattered.”
Thor growled and said, “Stark betrayed our trust. He had no comprehension of what he was dealing with--and does not seem to care about the consequences.”
Steve nodded and said, “We should have known. I can’t help but think this could have all been avoided if Fury had actually done something when Tony hacked Shield.”
He sighed and continued, “I should have spoken up.”
Natasha said, “You were dealing with waking up in new century. Shield was all you had.”
She leaned her elbows on the table and continued, “I felt the same way.”
Clint nodded and said, “I owed Nick. He helped Laura and me get off the grid and he took me back after the whole Loki crash and burn. It never occurred to me to question his actions.”
He looked at Wanda and said, “But Ultron...we have to let people know.”
Steve nodded and pushed a button on a tablet connected to a hack-proof network. A nearby screen displayed affadavits from each of them detailing exactly what happened--and who had created the Ultron program.
Suddenly Vision phased into the room. He said, “You were wise to prevent Friday from discovering your actions--and intentions.”
Thor sat up straighter and asked, “Do you plan to stop us?”
Vision shook his head and said, “No. On the contrary, I will add to your evidence. I have the full plans for Ultron and can show how Ultron was following Stark’s instructions and programming. I can also show the difference between Ultron and Jarvis, which is the root of Ultron’s...irregularities.”
He looked around the room and continued, “I cannot be sorry I exist, but I do agree the destruction that caused my creation would have been avoided if Ultron had not had access to the network. Or a creator who cared so little about the consequences of his actions.”
Steve nodded and pressed the command that released the materials. Vision gestured and his affadavit followed.
Everyone else stood and gathered around Bruce and Wanda.
Natasha said, “Remember, no matter what happens, we’re with you.”
Everyone folded into a group hug.
***
Because this universe actually held Tony accountable, it avoided Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame. Wanda and Bruce accepted their sentences, which were nowhere near as long as Tony’s.