You are not an Avenger anymore, Mr. Stark!
By 68hawkeyefan
Tony Stark has to listen to a few truths he don't like very much but can't deny either.
Meanwhile Pepper finds out what Stark did all this years behind her back and the crimes he committed against the true Avengers and other enhanced humans. And she is not pleased about it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This is a story about Pepper but she will first appear in the third Chapter. As I wrote this and the next chapter it was only planned as a short three or four-chapter story but then I wrote the third chapter and at that point Pepper simply took over. At this point my story has 19 chapters and over 25.000 words, which I will post in weekly updates.
This story is not Tony-Stark-friendly, so if you stan him this story is not for you.
I started to look Babylon 5 again and know now why I didn't like the Sokovia Accords from the beginning. For me belongs Babylon 5 to one of the best science fiction series ever because it is over civil courage and sometimes you have to say "No" to the government because you as a person are in the right and the government is in the wrong.
Professor Xavier & Magneto
The Avengers-Complex was empty, there were no other Avengers here than him, Rhodey and Vision. Stark had send in the last weeks several invitations to other superheroes he knew but until this day had never received any answers.
Tony Stark was determined to change that, he decided to start with Charles Xavier who as the leader of the X-Men knew the most powerful mutants.
He drove to the property and asked at the door gateway to see Charles Xavier and after a few minutes he was allowed on the land of the school.
A man with a cigar in his teeth and a wild look stood in the entrance of the mansion and his eyes were not friendly. "Follow me. One attempt to spy on us, attack or try to manipulate someone and the person who will leave will not be the same who now stands before me. You are not very welcome here!"
With this clear warning, he stood aside and let Tony in. On his way through the mansion, Stark saw how everybody looked at him, the looks ranged from distrust to contempt to outright hate.
His guide brought him to a door, opened it and said, "Your visitor, Professor Xavier."
"Let him in, Logan", said a strong voice and the man with the cigar stood aside.
Stark entered the room and introduced himself, "Hello, Mr. Xavier, I'm Tony Stark."
"I know who you are, Mr. Stark and it is Professor Xavier, thank you very much."
"I want to propose a collaboration with you so that some of your people can come to me to the Avengers-Complex and be an Avenger."
"Neither I nor my people have any interest to work in any capacity with you", answered Professor Xavier disdainfully. „Is that all?"
"I don't think you understand, the people who are with me, are under the protection of the Sokovia Accords."
"You mean as long as they agree with everything you say, do or think?
Like your friend Rhodey, who as a soldier swore an oath to obey his superiors and in this moment his superiors want the Sokovia Accords, because it gives them power and control over people who they fear?
Or Vision, which personality is based on JARVIS, an AI, you created and certainly did program to feel loyalty only to you? I wonder how free Vision really is in his decisions, I suppose not much.
But I forget you don't have any difficulties to imprison humans against their will or against the law.
And you don't have any remorse to blackmail a fourteen year old child to fight in your war because there were not enough powerful beings on your side and you are too much of coward to fight if the odds are against you.
Even so was your 'victory' false because the Avengers who are against the accords didn't fought with all their strength. They didn't want to hurt their friends but then again this is also not a big problem for you. You shot a man at point blank who came down to give first aid to your friend Rhodey, who by the way was shot down through Vision, not one of your opponents like you alleged in the press conference you gave with Ross."
Stark gulped visible, the references to Wanda Maximoff, Peter Parker and Sam Wilson were all too clear.
Professor Xavier nodded as he saw that Stark understood his references before he began to talk once more. "The Sokovia Accords were not created for the protection of the 'normal' people, they were created to control enhanced beings but who know anyway what comes later. They are discriminating and go against all human rights.
As soon as somebody signs, he has lost every right to make his own decisions.
And through the obligation to tell the names of their loved ones, the governments have another leverage against everyone who signs the accords. What did it call Hydra again, the Incentive program?
And if that is not enough, as soon as these information leak, what they will inevitable do, their family will not only in danger from the government but all the enemies the enhanced collected in the years before or from everybody who wants to use their abilities."
"The data will be absolute confidential and secure", objected Tony Stark immediately.
„It is never a good idea to put people on a list, Mr. Stark. And that was a very naive and stupid statement for someone who claims to be a genius. But then you were never so clever like you let everyone believe."
„Is this a bad time, Charles?" asked Erik Lehnsherr, who had heard the last words by his entrance in the room.
„No, it is a perfect time, Eric. Mr. Stark wants to invite us to his Complex to become Avengers under the protection of the Accords."
„I'll pass, Mr. Stark, one tattoo without my consent is more than enough", answered Erik and rubbed involuntarily his arm.
„You can't compare the Accords with the methods of the Nazis."
„I can't? Human beings, who are not like others, are put on a list, they are marked and they don't have the same rights. For me there is no difference!
With your Accords, of which you are so proud, you did manage to make every mutant or enhanced being a slave of the government.
You are somebody who can't concede to the mistakes you make and you lack the decency, courage and honour to make reparations. And I don't mean the way you solve every problem you have with your money. Frankly, you are a worthless human being."
The contempt Erik was feeling for Stark was in every word and the same contempt stood in the face from Professor Xavier who now once again spoke.
"You have never faced consequences for your crimes or your actions, your money and influence always sheltered you from them. It is only bad that not everybody is a billionaire who has the same protection.
You did create Ultron behind the back of the other Avengers and as they confronted you with your actions, you derided them. You joked over the impending death of people who you put in danger without any thought beforehand.
Your friend Bruce could at least admit his guilt and showed remorse over his deeds.
And then you did the same again with Vision. You have only to thank Thor that you not created a second Ultron with your haughtiness and egotism because you can never accept to be in the wrong.
And did you admit to the publicity that you created Ultron? No, of course not. The other Avengers shared the culpability with you but we both know that only you are responsible for all the deaths of Sokovia.
And so are you the one who also shaped Zemo! The bombing, the death of the king of Wakanda goes likewise on your account.
Everybody else would after this thought twice over his next actions but what did you do? You allied with Ross and helped him with the Sokovia Accords, again you thought you knew everything better and decided the future of others who you never asked for their opinions.
Tell me, did a part of you knew that you were in the wrong? I mean why else did you again backstab your friends. You didn't warn them, you informed them only three days before the ratification. What did you hope? That they would blindly trust you and sign without reading? They will never do that again after Ultron, they are much too intelligent for that.
What was your reward for this betrayal? Did Ross promise you government contracts or did he threaten to cancel them?
What says your friend Bruce about the fact that you allied yourself with the man, who tortured and hunted him over the whole world and who even now would love nothing more than to get his hands on the Hulk?
But then, what is the freedom of other human beings against the preservation of your power and influence? You are a pathetic loser!"
"You would belong to the Avengers like Rhodey, Vision and me", tried Stark to distract from the allegations, which of course were the truth.
„You are not an Avenger anymore, Mr. Stark. You lost every right to call you that after you betrayed the real Avengers to Ross and they had to go in the exile", answered Professor Xavier coldly.
„Do you know about the pricelist that Ross invented? In it stand the fees who the governments must pay to get the help of your false Avengers. Then there is another list with fees if you don't want it that other governments get help, they are of course much higher.
What is your share, 10 or 20 %? You did make help for people in peril or need a commodity. I hope you are proud of you! Frankly how you can look in the mirror each morning I don't understand."
"I have a list too, Mr. Stark, on which I set the people who are a danger to me and my brothers and sisters. Congratulation, you and Ross have it through the Sokovia Accords managed to be put on top of it."
Erik Lehnherr smiled malicious before he winked with a finger. A big vase out of steel that stand on a little table did go in the air.
„And I wouldn't trust in your iron suit that it can protect you from me." The vase knitted itself to a ball as if it was only paper.
Tony Stark grew pale.
"I think it would be a good idea if you go now, Mr. Stark", said Professor Xavier. "You have overstayed your welcome under my people. Come not back until you develop a conscience and finally take responsibility for your actions. And as a last advice, grow up!"
The door behind Stark opened and his guide stood in the door.
"Please escort Mr. Stark from my property, Logan, he is no longer welcome here."
"It will be my genuine pleasure", said Logan and smiled coldly.
Stark followed him, he knew when he was outclassed and as Professor Xavier had said, he only did fight when he could win.