3rd Person POV (Nikita Maximoff)
= Avengers Compound, NY =
"Five years ago, I had a heart attack and dropped right in the middle of my backswing." Secretary Ross tells the portion of the Avengers that were sitting in the meeting room. Wanda and Nikita sit across from each other, with Wanda next to Vision and Nikita between Rhodey and Natasha. "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." Nikita locks eyes with her sister, giving her a 'why are we listening to this' look in which Wanda returns with a small shrug before both girls turn their attention back to Ross. "The world owes the Avengers an unpayable 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."
"What word would you use, Mr Secretary?" Natasha asks from her seat behind Nikita
"How about dangerous?" Ross suggests. "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 starts playing videos. "New York." He narrates as destruction is shown. "Washington, D.C. Sokovia. Lagos."
Steve notices the change in Wanda while Natasha's eyes were trained on the shift in her trainee's position in the chair in front of her as Nikita looks down
"Okay. That's enough." Steve says to which Ross turns the videos off
"For the past four years, you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision." Ross says. "That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution." He slides a large book to Wanda. "The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 countries it states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organization." Wanda looks at Rhodey who motions for her to give it to him, which she does. "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." Steve speaks up. "I feel we've done that."
"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Ross asks. Silence. "If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes... you can bet there'd be consequences." He says, walking around the group. "Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."
"So, there are contingencies." Rhodey says
"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords." Ross says. Steve turns to look at Stark. "Talk it over."
"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" Natasha asks
"Then you retire." Ross tells her
***
The group is in the common room. Sam and Rhodey are arguing. Steve is reading through the accords. Stark sits in a chair, holding his head. Natasha sits across from him. Wanda and Nikita sit together on the couch with connected hands and Vision stands next to Wanda
"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honour which is one more than you have." Rhodey tells Sam, continuing their argument
"So let's say we agree to this thing." Sam says. "How long is it gonna be before they LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals?"
"117 countries want to sign this." Rhodey says. "117, Sam, and you're just like, 'No, that's cool. We got it.'"
"How long are you going to play both sides?" Sam retorts
"I have an equation." Vision speaks up
"Oh, this will clear it up." Sam says sarcastically
Everyone listens to Vision
"In the eight years since Mr Stark announced himself as Iron Man, the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially." Vision says. "During the same period... the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate."
"Are you saying it's our fault?" Steve asks
"I'm saying there may be a causality." Vision says. "Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict... breeds catastrophe. Oversight... Oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand."
"Boom." Rhodey says
"Tony." Natasha calls to him. "You are being uncharacteristically non-hyperverbal."
"It's because he's already made up his mind." Steve says
"Boy, you know me so well." Stark says, standing up and walking over to the kitchen counter. "Actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache. That's what's going on, Cap. It's just pain. It's discomfort. Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal? Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?" He tosses a hologram up in front of him of a boy. "Oh, that's Charles Spencer, by the way. He's a great kid. Computer engineering degree, 3.6 GPA... had a floor-level gig at Intel planned for the fall. But first, he wanted to put a few miles on his soul before he parked it behind a desk. See the world. Maybe be of service. Charlie didn't want to go to Vegas or Fort Lauderdale, which is what I would do. He didn't go to Paris or Amsterdam, which sounds fun. He decided to spend his summer building sustainable housing for the poor. Guess where. Sokovia. He wanted to make a difference, I suppose. We won't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kicking ass. There's no decision-making process here. We need to be put in check! Whatever form that takes, I'm game. If we can't accept limitations, if we're boundary-less...we're no better than the bad guys."
"Tony, someone dies on your watch, you don't give up." Steve says
"Who said we're giving up?" Stark says
"We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions." Steve says. "This document just shifts the blame."
"I'm sorry, Steve." Rhodey says. "That is dangerously arrogant. This is the United Nations we're talking about. It's not the World Security Council, it's not S.H.I.E.L.D., it's not HYDRA."
"No, but it's run by people with agendas, and agendas change." Steve says
"That's good. That's why I'm here." Stark says. "When I realised what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands... I shut it down and stopped manufacturing."
"Tony, you chose to do that." Steve tells him. "If we sign this, we surrender our right to choose. What if this panel sends us somewhere we don't think we should go? What if there is somewhere we need to go and they don't let us? We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own."
"If we don't do this now, it's gonna be done to us later." Stark tells the group. "That's the fact. That won't be pretty."
"You're saying they'll come for us." Wanda speaks up for her and Nikita to which Nikita tightens her grip around Wanda's hand
"We would protect you." Vision says
"Maybe Tony's right." Natasha says. "If we have one hand on the wheel, we can still steer. If we take it off..."
"Aren't you the same woman who told the government to kiss her ass a few years ago?" Sam asks her
"I'm just reading the terrain." Natasha tells him. "We have made some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back."
"Focus up." Stark says. "I'm sorry. Did I just mishear you... or did you agree with me?"
"I want to take it back now." Natasha says
"No, you can't retract it." Stark tells her. "Thank you. Unprecedented."
Steve's phone buzzes
"Okay. Case closed." Stark says. "I win."
"I have to go." Steve says, leaving the room
***
Natasha walks into the church where Steve stands alone
"When I came out of the ice, I thought everyone I had known was gone." Steve tells her. "Then I found out she was alive. I was just lucky to have her."
"She had you back, too." Natasha says
"Who else signed?" Steve asks
"Tony, Rhodey, Vision." Natasha answers
"Clint?" Steve asks
"Says he's retired." Natasha says
"The twins?" Steve asks
"They wouldn't like it if they heard you call them that." Natasha tells him
"They're not triplets anymore." Steve sighs, looking at the picture of Peggy that was there for the funeral. "Their brother's dead. Where's Wanda on it?"
"TBD." Natasha answers
"And Nikki?" Steve asks
"She's...scared." Natasha says with a small sigh, looking down. Then, she straightens up and looks at Steve again. "I'm off to Vienna for the signing of the Accords. There's plenty of room on the jet." Steve sighs. "Just because it's the path of least resistance... doesn't mean it's the wrong path. Staying together is more important than how we stay together."
"What are we giving up to do it?" Steve says. "I'm sorry, Nat. I can't sign it."
"I know." Natasha whispers
"Then what are you doing here?" Steve asks
"I didn't want you to be alone." Natasha tells him, giving him a hug
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Hope you all enjoyed that chapter!! Remember to vote and comment!! Next chapter up NEXT THURSDAY
-MC