Can't Ask, Don't Need, Won't Acknowledge

Chapter 18: Civil Discourse

Wanda nodded before heading off to the bathroom to wash her face.

Wanda entered the room to see everyone already sat around the table, she quickly took her seat and glanced up at Secretary Ross who was stood waiting to addres the room. “Five years ago, I had a heart attack. 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 40 years in the Army had never taught me: Perspective. The world owes the Avengers an un-payable debt. You have fought for us, protected us, risked your lives . . . but while a great many people see you as heroes, there are some . . . who would prefer the word "vigilantes"”

“And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?” questioned Natasha with a narrowing of her eyes.

“How about "dangerous"? 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 activates a screen behind him. News footage from past Avengers and SHIELD matters flash on the screen as he speaks. Terror, destruction, gunfire, buildings tumbling appear scene by scene all running into each other like some sort of malevolent montage.
“New York, Washington DC, Sokovia.”

At the mention of Sokovia, Wanda’s eyes are unable to move away from the screen as she watches her home city razed to the ground. The avengers had protected her from seeing most of the destruction, and wrapped her in cotton wall when it came to the media focus on the events.

“And lastly Lagos.”

Wanda is unable to hide her discomfort as she visibly starts to tear up, she is one big raw ending still.

“Okay. That's enough,” stated Steve firmly, looking over with concern at Wanda.
Secretary Ross turns the images off, “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.”

He places a big book onto the table, “The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 countries . . . it states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organization. Instead, they'll operate under the supervision of a United Nations panel, only when and if that panel deems it necessary.”

“The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that.” Argued Steve.

“Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?”
Steve glares at him slightly in response but doesn’t respond so Secretary Ross continues, “If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes . . . you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground.”

“So, there are contingencies,” questioned Rhodes

“Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords. Talk it over.”

“And if we come to a decision you don't like?” asked Natasha.

“Then you retire,” was Secretary Ross’s simple response.

……………………………..

The avengers all sat around the table, Steve was quietly reading the accords, as the others all discussed it between them. Wanda sat quietly as the others all discussed it around her. The arguing was making her uncomfortable. She listened carefully as Tony told them all about Charles Spencer the kid that had died in Sokovia. It had clearly impacted Tony more than he wanted to admit. The guilt was dripping from his pores. Steve just argued back about responsibility and agendas. The words were all starting to blur to Wanda, but she focused back when she heard Tony say, “If we don’t do this now, it’s gonna be done to us later. That’s the fact. That won’t be pretty.”