The world was blank, a swirling orb in a never-ending cycle. There was no change, no thought, only stillness. She couldn't remember life outside of her mind. Something was there, she knew it but she couldn't place what it was. There were blank faces swirling around her, calling out to her but she could never reach them.
"Anastasia? Anya? Can you hear me?"
A voice broke through her thoughts, small and distant, it grew in power as it spoke again.
"Anastasia, it's time for you to wake up. Can you open your eyes for me?"
"Eleven Wakandans were among those killed during a confrontation between the Avengers and a group of mercenaries in Lagos, Nigeria last month. The traditionally reclusive Wakandans were on an outreach mission in Lagos, when the attack occurred."
Steve watched in sorrow as the Wakandan King spoke of the explosion. As the television spoke of justice and innocent lives, Steve shut it off, unable to bear the sight of it any longer.
He paused as he heard a faint noise coming from the back of the house, another television was turned on also focusing on the matter, and he knew just what room it was coming from.
"What legal authority do enhanced individuals like Anya Barstow and Wanda Maximoff have to operate in Nigeria?
The television shut off and Wanda turned around from her seat on the bed to face Steve. Anya was next to her, face blank as she stared off out the window.
"It's my fault." Wanda broke the silence.
"That's not true." Steve crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe.
"Turn the TV back on, they're being very specific."
Anya stood up and walked towards the window, only showing her back to the other two. "Wanda, you know that it wasn't your fault." Anya stated. "I was the one who wasn't able to hold the shield. If I could have kept it up, no one should have died."
"Anya.." Steve walked over to her. "I should have clocked that bomb vest long before you had to deal with it. You too, Wanda." He stepped closer. "Rumlow mentioned a close friend of mine and all of the sudden I was a 16-year-old again, in Brooklyn. And people died. It's on me."
"It's on all of us." Wanda spoke from the bed.
Anya slowly turned around and faced Steve, her long hair was pushed behind her ears and her eyes were strong, showing the deep color with her hidden pain.
"This job," Steve put his arm on her shoulder, "We try to save as many people as we can. Sometimes that doesn't mean everybody." He paused, going over his next words. "If we can't find a way to life with that, the next time… maybe nobody gets saved."
They were suddenly interrupted as Vision emerged through the wall, dressed in dress pants and a button down vest.
"Vis!" Wanda exclaimed. "We talked about this."
"Yes but the door was open so I assumed that.." Vision stopped rambling when we saw Steve and Anya.
"Captain Rodgers wished to know when Mr. Stark was arriving."
Steve nodded. "Thank you, we'll be right down."
Vision awkwardly stood before pointing with his hand, "I'll use the door."
Vision stopped right before exiting. "Oh and apparently he's brought a guest."
"We know who it is?" Steve asked."
"The Secretary of State."
Wanda stood up. "I can go if you want to spend a minute alone with Anya." She paused. "Though I wouldn't take too long because I have a feeling this is important."
Steve smiled. "Thank you, Wanda." Anya just nodded as the fellow Sokovian left the room.
"Anya you need to talk to me." Steve started. "I can't help you unless you open up to me. We use to talk all the time remember? After Wanda found you in Sokovia, you entered our training program against the recommendation of the government and we were able to connect."
"Rumlow was telling you about Bucky, wasn't he."
Steve sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Yes he was. But this doesn't mean ––"
Anya stared into his eyes, hers softening as she took his hand. "I am sorry about your friend, Steve. I know how much he means to you. I will try to get better but how can I when all I can think about is the fact that I might be taken away and locked up again like they did to experiment on me."
"You, Wanda, and Pieter all went through hell in those experiments. And because your powers were stronger, they didn't take you out of hibernation like they did the twins. You've only had a couple months of experiencing the real world. We were wrong to try and throw you into this fight before you were ready."
Anya leaned in and wrapped her arms around Steve, wanting the closeness of her friend for comfort. "I have to accept what I am, and I don't want to hide anymore or be afraid of my powers. But I can help. I can, and I want to."
Steve chuckled as he stroked her hair softly. "You've always been a fighter. But we should probably meet up with the others. Secretary Ross doesn't like to be kept waiting."
"Don't let them take me."
"I won't." Steve promised.
"Five years ago, I had a heart attack and dropped right in the middle of my backswing…" The team gathered around the conference table as Secretary Ross went on to explain how his accident showed him perspective in life.
"The world owes the Avengers an unplayable debt. You have fought for us, protected us, risked your lives," he paused, "but while a great many people see you as heroes… there are some who would prefer the word 'vigilantes'."
Natasha leaned forward. "And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?"
"How about 'dangerous'."
Anya lowered her eyes as he continued. "How 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?"
The team remained in silence as the Secretary of State walked over to the screen behind him and began to play footage from the previous world disasters.
"New York."
The first scene played where the chitari were crashing into the busy skyscrapers of the city. People were screaming as the Hulk jumped over the cameraman, causing loose debris to bury him.
Rooney looked down and the rest of the team shifted uncomfortably.
Secretary Ross continued.
"Washington D.C."
The giant helicopters crashed into the bay, flaming with thick black smoke covering the sky. Anya noticed how Sam flinched at the sight of people getting doused with water caused by the crashing ships.
"Sokovia."
The large city being lifted into the air as people ran desperately for their lives. Anya had been in hibernation during that time, but was saddened because this had been her home and her best friend and Wanda's brother had died during this fight.
"Lagos."
The painfully familiar scene of last month was replayed on the giant screen. People were being carted off in ambulances while others lay unmoving on the ground.
Pain shook Anya as she and Wanda were once again shown their failure. It was her fault, Anya thought, she had lost control and she couldn't contain the powerful energy inside of her. She had caused the terrible accident, she was the one to blame.
When she had come out of that hibernation, she was dumbfounded. Hydra had promised that she would have been wakened alongside the twins, being a team and sharing combat. She was so hurt and confused when Wanda had to tearfully explain why Pieter wasn't there. When she had arrived at the training center she only had Wanda until Steve took her under his wing. He was the one who had brought her out of her shell, showed her the beauty to her power rather than destruction and gave her a purpose for continuing to use her abilities.
She had too much energy, that was her flaw. She lacked the strength to keep herself under control, she lacked the ability to save lives, she had to face the guilt for the rest of her life over the innocent lives that had been lost in Lagos.
"That's enough."
Steve placed a hand on Anya as he glared at the Secretary.
Secretary Ross stared him down before continuing on his lecture. "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." He paused before stepping closer to his assistant. "But I think we have a solution."
Grabbing a thick bound packet, he handed it directly to Wanda. "The Sokovian Accords. Approved by 177 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 better place." Steve cut in. " I feel that we've done that."
Secretary Ross smirked sarcastically. "Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now? If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes, you can bet there'd be consequences." He motioned at Wanda and then over to Anya. "These ladies were responsible for the mass explosion that killed several people last month. When Anya came into the program, the government positioned to have her under their watch and only out of respect from the team did we allow her to join your initiative."
"You can't blame her for that explosion," Natasha protested. "Rumlow was the cause of it and she and Wanda saved countless lives."
"And countless lives were lost." Secretary Ross began again. "Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."
Rooney waved his hand around trying to understand. "So, there are contingencies."
Ross nodded. "Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords. With these Accords, it also states that Anastasia Barstow will be admitted under the governments control for a closer watch until we can determine she isn't a threat."
Steve put his arm on Anya's arm. "So you mean you could use Anya for your own personal gain to experiment on her."
Steve glanced back at Tony, who had remained silence throughout the entire ordeal.
Ross smirked but made no comment. "Talk it over."
As Secretary Ross was heading for the exit, Natasha spoke up. "And if we come to a decision you don't like?"
Ross had a somber glare. "Then you retire." And he exited.
Cut to ten minutes of angry discussion, the Avengers were still arguing over the matter. An obvious split was beginning to form between the team.
As Steve read in detail what the Accords were constricting, Rooney and Sam were arguing behind him.
"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor." Rooney was debating. "Which is one more than you have."
"So let's say we agree to this thing.." Sam said. "How long is it gonna be before they LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals."
"117 contries want to sign this. 117, Sam, and you're just like 'No, that's cool. We got it.'"
"How long are you going to play both side." Sam asked frustratedly.
Vision cut in. "I have an equation."
Sam scoffed. "Oh this will clear it up."
"In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man," Vision began, "the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially. During the same period, the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate."
Steve raises his eyebrow. "Are you saying it's our fault?"
Vision countered, "I'm saying there may be a causality. Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict…breeds catastrophe. Oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand."
"Boom." Rooney had a smug look on his face as he looked back over to Sam.
"Tony." Natasha started, looking over at him as he lay on the chair with a hand over his face. "Your being uncharacteristically non-hyperverbal."
"It's cause he's already made up his mind," Steve suggested.
"Boy, you know me so well." Stark got out of his chair. "Actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache." He walked over to the adjoining kitchen before saying sarcastically. "That's whats going on, Steve, just pain. It's discomfort. Whose putting coffee grounds in the disposal?" He stalks back over to the table. "Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?"
Placing his phone down, the opened up a holographic screen showing a picture of a young man on it.
"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 the desk. See the world. Maybe be of service." Tony angrily scrubbed the coffee cup in his hand. "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." Tony scoffed. "Guess where. Sokovia."
The team was silent as the somber mood refilled the air.
"He wanted to make a difference, I suppose." Tony continued. "We won't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kicking ass." Tony took a slow sip of his coffee before placing it back on the table and walking over to the team. "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 were no better than the bad guys."
"Tony," Steve cut in. "If someone dies on your watch, you don't give up."
Tony raised his shoulders. "Who said we're giving up?"
"We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions. This document just shifts the blame."
"I'm sorry, Steve." Rhoney interrupted. "That is dangerous arrogant. This is the United Nations we are talking about. Its not the World Security Council, it's not SHIELD, it's not HYDRA."
"No," Steve said. "But it's run by people with agendas and agendas change."
"That's good." Tony walked over to Steve. "That's why I'm here. When I realized what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands, I shut it down and stopped manufacturing."
"Tony, you chose to do that," Steve emphasized. "You heard what Secretary Ross said about Anya. They are going to take her choices away and keep her locked up as an experiment monkey."
Anya flinched at his words.
"Ross was just exaggerating to try and get under your skin."
Steve raised his eyebrow. "You honestly believe that? If we sign this, we all surrender our right to choose."
Tony looked away as Steve continued, the rest of the team listening with contorted emotions on their faces. "What if they send 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," Tony said slowly, "it's going to be done to us later. That's the fact, that's the truth."
"So you're saying they'll come for me?" Anya's dark eyes were soft with emotion.
Tony instantly softened. "We would protect you. I would not let Secretary Ross anywhere near you."
"But how can you say that?" Anya stood up, finally taking part in the conversation. "Even if it's not talking about me, they can't have the power to make those decisions over people. We are all unique and special and have the right values in our heart. I don't trust government's motives. They lied to me before in Sokovia when I signed up for the experiments and I doubt it would be any different in this situation."
"Anya." Natasha started, "We know you and we know that Sokovia was not yours and Wanda's fault. We would protect you but I feel that maybe Tony's right." Tony gives her a questionable look. "If we had one hand on the wheel, we could still steer. If we take it off…"
"Aren't you the same women who told the government to kiss her ass a few years ago?" Sam interrupted.
"I'm just reading the terrain. We have made some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back."
"Focus up." Tony leaned onto the table. "I'm sorry. Did I just mishear you or did you agree with me —"
"I want to take it back now."
"No, no, no." Tony wagged his finger. "You can't retract it."
Meanwhile, Wanda had leaned over to Anya and was whispering in her ear. "The team would never let Ross take you, Tony would make sure of that."
"How can you be so sure?" Anya countered. "How can you be sure they won't do the same for you?"
Wanda was silent for a moment before speaking. "I don't agree in these Accords either, but I have no place else to go, same as you. We have to trust our team to keep us safe."
Anya leaned over and grasped Wanda's hand.
Steve's phone suddenly buzzed and as he grabbed it you could hear Tony's sarcastic comments in the back.
"Okay, case closed. I win."
Anya instantly noticed the pain emerge in Steve's face as he read through the text. Pain over a deeper emotion of loss and suffering.
"I have to go." Steve stood up abruptly. Dropping the Accords, he stalked over, grabbed Anya by the arm and together they walked out together.
"What is it?" Anya asked quietly as Steve lead her down the hall over to the vehicles.
"It's Peggy." Steve's voice faltered. "She's gone. And I'm not leaving you back there with those people. You'll be safe with me."
Anya leaned over and grabbed Steve's hand, comforting her friend as she noticed the obvious pain coming from his stature.
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