Sunshine | Pietro Maximoff

CHAPTER 19

Tony took a breath and looked out the window to his side.

"Look... You know I didn't mean what I said..."

For the first time, he turned his head to face me.

"Really. Stark Industries wouldn't be where it is now without you, Madden. It's just, you heard what that woman said."

I nodded, seeing my pain reflected in his eyes. He tried his hardest to hide it, every day. Yet, with Banner who knew where, I was the only one who knew how he felt. Truly knew. I nodded.

"I'm trying to deal with the aftermath the best I can."

"I know. And I meant what I said; I'm with you, Tony."

I did truly mean it. Tony and I were a team. I'd stand beside him. Tony gestured to the meeting room before he continued.

"After this, I'm gonna need all the help I can get."

I furrowed my eyebrows. What exactly did this entail? Tony clapped a hand on my shoulder, steering me towards the briefing room.

Inside, most of the team were already gathered around the table. Pietro's eyes were instantly on mine from the moment I entered the room. The corner of his mouth turned up. I took the empty seat beside him as Tony claimed a chair in the corner. Pietro moved his head to beside my ear and spoke in hushed tones.

"Any idea what this is about?" He asked, his breath crushing the hairs on the side of my neck to prickle.

"I get the feeling we're about to find out."

Secretary Ross had risen from his seat and stood at the head of the table.

"Five years ago, I had a heart attack."

He raised his arms, clasping his hands as if imitating swinging a golf club.

"I dropped right in the middle of my back swing. Turned out it was the best round of my life, because after 13 hours of surgery and a triple bypass... I found something that 40 years in the army had never taught me; perspective."

Everyone sat in silence, the only sound that of Ross' voice. He placed his hands in his pockets, looking over the apprehensive gazes he was met with.

"The world owes the Avengers an un-payable debt. You have fought for us, protected us, risked your lives..." He paused to look over the room once more before continuing. "But while a great many see you as heroes, there are some... who would prefer the word 'vigilanties'."

Ross' eyes met Wanda's for a second, before looking away.

"And what word would you use, Mr Secretary?" Natasha asked.

"How about 'dangerous'?" He answered. "What would you call a group of US-based, enhanced individuals who routinely ignore sovereign borders and inflict their will wherever they choose and who, frankly, seem unconcerned about what they leave behind?"

Ross stepped to the side and a screen activated behind him. News footage from past Avengers and SHIELD matters flashed on the screen as he spoke. Everyone's eyes were glued to the screen.

"New York."

A Chitauri leviathan. Terrified citizens. A soldier firing a gun. The Hulk smashes into a building and sends a dust cloud to engulf the camera. Rhodey glanced regretfully at Natasha.

"Washington, D.C?"

The three Insight helicarriers, firing on each other. The destroyed Triskelion. A helicarrier crashing into the Potomac and throwing up a massive wave, engulfing citizens and the camera. Sam looked down.

"Sokovia."

Terrified citizens, running. The city rising. A building falling over.

"Lagos."

The burning building. Paramedics moving a body. A dead girl. To Pietro's left, I noticed Wanda's head staring into her lap. Pietro placed a hand his sister's arm.

"Okay." Steve spoke up. "That's enough."

Ross nodded to one of the suited men with him and the footage disappeared.

"For the past four years, you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution."

The same suited man handed Ross a thick book. He places it on the table and slid it to Wanda.

"The Sokovia Accords."

Wanda picked it up. She looked over at Rhodey, who held out his hand. Wanda handed the book over to him.

"Approved by 117 countries... it states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organisation...Instead, they'll operate under the supervision of a United Nations panel, only when and if that panel deems it necessary."

As he spoke, Ross made his way around the table to stand between Nat and Steve. Steve spoke without raising his gaze from the table.

"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that."

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Ross asked.

Steve looked up at him in silence.

"If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes... You can bet there'd be consequences."

Ross made his way back to the head of the table.

"Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."

"So, there are contingencies." Rhodey said.

"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords." Replied Ross.

Steve looked over at Tony. After a moment, Tony returned his gaze.

"Talk it over." Ross said.

With that, he and the suited men moved from the door. Before they could leave the room, Natasha spoke up.

"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" She asked.

Ross stopped at the opposite end of the table.

"Then you retire."