Taking Care of You

Chapter 2 - Bullying

Steve Rogers was stubborn. He stood by what he believed and he wasn't afraid to speak out against those who disagreed with him. Steve always thought this attribute was positive. Sure he got into a number of fights due to his attitude and inability to keep his mouth shut. But in the end, it was always clear to him that he had made the right call. He never backed down from a fight because it was always the other guy that was in the wrong. He was right in rescuing the 107th. He was right in taking down SHIELD because they had been taken over by Hydra. And he was right in believing Bucky was innocent. Steve was stubborn and stood by his beliefs. He never thought his gut would let him down. He never thought he would be in the wrong. 

But then the Accords happened. 

Steve knew what it was like to be ordered around by government officials who only had their own interests at heart. He knew what it was like to find out the people you thought were protecting the world were actually threatening it. Steve knew what it was like to know he was needed somewhere but wasn't allowed to do anything. So when the Sokovia Accords were proposed he knew he couldn't sign. He wouldn't. 

The team was divided on the matter. Tony was adamant that the Accords were good. That the team needed to be monitored. And Steve understood. He knew Tony's past. He knew that his actions had resulted in casualties. Some were indirect, like the attack on New York, whereas others weren't, such as all the terrorists who were buying his weapons before he became Iron Man. Steve knew that guilt haunted Tony. But that didn't change the fact that the accords were bad news. 

So Steve let the team break apart. He stood by his opinion and allowed the government to turn him into a villain. He fought Tony, left him beaten and bruised at that base in Siberia. He failed to tell Tony about his parents' murder sooner. But he did it all because deep down he believed he was in the right. Tony was wrong and he was right. Simple as that. 

He never thought his opinion on that would change. He was stubborn. 

However, as if the world was just waiting to prove him wrong, he went to rescue his team from the Raft. And he had help. Tony helped. Somehow Tony had figured out what he was doing and instead of turning him in, or even showing up and arresting him, Tony helped him. He took out the surveillance and alarms. He allowed Steve to get in and get out without detection. 

Steve didn't know what to think. After everything that happened, after Steve abandoned him in Siberia, Tony still helped him. At one point in time, Steve had believed that Tony was selfish, only ever thinking about himself. Steve even believed that when Tony was fighting him on the accords. Tony felt guilty. He felt bad for all the innocents who got caught in the crossfire. But by doing this, by allowing them to be controlled, he was owning up to his mistakes. And in the process, he would be able to let himself off. Stop feeling that guilt. But when Steve realized Tony had helped him, he realized he had gravely misjudged the man. 

This, of course, sent him into a spiral. Steve started debating his stance on the subject. Was he really in the right? Should he have been so quick to break the team up, to fight his friends? When he started doubting himself, it made him thankful he had sent that phone to Tony. It was comforting knowing there was a method of contact between them. There was a chance things could be fixed. However, he was thoroughly surprised when his phone got a call 4 months later from Tony. The conversation was forced and awkward. But Tony was making an effort so Steve extended the action. 

"I got the UN to agree to revise the Accords." Steve hardly believed the words when he heard them. To think that after everything Tony was still trying to get them back home. He was still fighting for them. Steve just couldn't believe it. It was a dream come true. So Steve had, of course, agreed to come out of hiding, under promise to not be arrested, so that he could be apart of the discussion. It took a lot of work but after a month of deliberating they were able to come to an agreement and the Rogues were pardoned. There did have to be some form of punishment though, but that essentially resulted in a loose 'house arrest' and a few weeks of community service.