Again, MAJOR SPOILERS! You have been warned. Only real differences are that I have inserted some Steve/Wanda bits. To not infringe on copyright, much of the dialogue here is from the film and belongs to the writers. I have altered some of the dialogue intentionally to make it fit the plot better.
Okay, enjoy...
Chapter Two
The plane back was silent.
Wanda had not stopped shaking and Steve fought the urge to comfort her. She would only reject it considering her state of mind. He really wanted to tell her it was not her fault. It was on him; he should not have let Rumlow get the better of him. When they got back to the facility, Wanda went straight to her room. The news kept saying the same thing: she was to blame. Steve's blood was boiling every time the news said it. He thought it best to give her some space but after a couple hours, he had to see if she was okay. Wanda was watching the television where the news of what happened in Lagos was being shown and the newscasters questioned whether Wanda was safe to even be an Avenger. He switched it off.
"It's my fault," she said quietly.
"That's not true Doll," Steve told her.
"Turn the TV back on; they're being very specific."
"I should have got clocked that bomb vest long before you had to deal with it." Steve started to walk closer to the bed. "Rumlow said 'Bucky', and all of a sudden I was a sixteen-year-old kid again in Brooklyn." He finally sat down next to her. "And people died. It's on me."
"It's on both of us."
"This job... We try to save as many people as we can. Sometimes it doesn't mean everybody, but if we can't find a way to love with that then next time... Maybe nobody gets saved. You did what you thought was right, and you did save far more people on the ground."
"But I still killed those in the building. A lot of things are my fault. Look at what happened to Pietro. If I had not played with Stark's head..."
"No. Don't blame yourself for that. You had no part in Ultron being corrupted. Regardless of whether you had shown him his fear or not, Ultron probably would have gone rogue anyway."
"You're only saying that to make me feel better."
Steve took Wanda's hand and squeezed it. "I'm telling it you because it is the truth."
"How did you ever forgive me for doing what I did to you?"
"Because I knew deep down you were a good person. I'm not going to say that what I saw did not shake me, but I know that regardless of how much I wished I could be back in the forties, it was never going to happen. However, I do have a chance to live the life that I wanted. It's just a different partner, but still the right one."
Steve's fingers intertwined with Wanda's and he gave a small smile. Wanda gave a faint smile back. Before Steve could lean in, Vision appeared through the wall.
"Vision!" Wanda exclaimed.
"Yes, but the door was open so I assumed that…" Vision did not know how to finish the sentence to went onto another point. "Captain Rogers wished to know when Mr Stark was arriving."
"Thank you. We'll be right down," Steve replied.
"I'll use the door," Vision stated as he walked to the door. "Oh, and apparently, he's brought a guest."
"We know who it is?"
"The Secretary of State."
Steve and Wanda looked at each other. They should have expected that some government official would arrive soon to discuss what happened in Lagos, but Wanda could sense something ominous was coming. They both got off the bed but before they left the room, Wanda pressed a soft kiss against Steve's lips. When they entered the meeting room, they found the rest of the team sitting around the table and Tony sitting in the corner.
To keep it professional, Steve and Wanda sat on opposite ends of the table as Thaddeus Ross proposed something to them: The Avengers becoming government controlled. Ross was picking at wounds that had barely healed for Wanda and it started to grind Steve's gears more than the meeting was already. When Steve saw Wanda look away from the explosion in Lagos, he finally snapped, "That's enough."
Wanda looked at him and gave a faint smile. Ross did not look impressed. It was common knowledge that Steve and Wanda were a couple, even if they maintained some professionalism while on missions and in meetings, but Steve's outburst had betrayed his emotions. "I beg you to keep your feelings regarding your relationship with Miss Maximoff under control Captain. This is serious," Ross warned as he passed the proposal to Wanda. Wanda looked at the title and swiftly passed it to Rhodey.
Later, the team gathered to talk about whether they should agree with it. Obviously, Rhodey was for it. Vision applied some sort of logic to his support. Steve noted Tony's uncharacteristic silence was a sign he agreed. Natasha then voiced her support.
Sam was vocally protesting this while Steve argued that the safest hands were their own. Wanda was unsure about the whole thing and stayed mostly quiet. While Sam and Rhodey were yelling at one another, Steve got a message. It was from the nursing home.
Peggy was gone.
He immediately ran out the room and hid in a quiet stairwell. Wanda waited a moment before going to find him. She found him crying and she didn't even need to ask what happened. Without saying anything, she just hugged him. She soothingly rubbed the back of his neck. It was later that night while Steve was asleep beside her, Wanda called Pietro. He was at a rehab facility in L.A with Pepper as she had found somewhere that could try to help Pietro regain his ability to walk using the new Stark Industries exoskeleton.
"Hi Pietro," she said softly.
"Wanda, you okay?"
"Yeah. Steve's sleeping. Today has just been the worst."
"I saw the news. It's not your fault."
"Thanks. I wish you could be here to punch this government guy in the face. He blames me for what happened in Lagos."
"Asshat."
Wanda smiled a little, "They want the Avengers to become government control. We're too dangerous apparently."
"That's... I don't know what to say."
"Say that whatever I decide, you'll back me up."
"You know I will."
-o-
The next morning was awkward. After the heated exchanges the previous afternoon, no one was willing to talk to one another over breakfast, save when they asked someone to pass something over. Steve's mind was elsewhere. There was a touch of guilt that he should have called Sharon as soon as he got the message to check she was okay. Peggy was her aunt after all.
"Can you pass the milk?" Natasha asked Sam. Sam pushed it with far more force than he intended. "Okay, less of the attitude."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Am I too much of a threat to go outside now?" Sam asked sardonically.
"Okay, that's enough. You've made your point," Rhodey warned.
"I can't believe that you of all people Natasha would agree to this bullshit."
"Someone has to keep us in check. Did you not see all the places we've caused damage? Thanks to us there is now a hole in the middle of Europe."
Steve was getting annoyed with the arguing. He did agree with Sam, but under the current circumstances, he was not in the mood for arguing with Natasha and Rhodey. It was not helped when Tony came in and joined Natasha. At that point, he pushed his seat away from the table and left the room. Wanda, who already had a headache and was feeling nauseous from the smell of her eggs, glared at the others in the room.
"What's up with him? He's been acting off since yesterday," Sam stated.
"Peggy died is what happened," Wanda replied sharply before pushing her plate away and went to find Steve. Rather than the gym, she found him outside by the apple tree. "I don't really know what to say to make you feel better. If Pietro had died maybe I would. I had to tell them. I know it was not my place but I thought if I could stop them arguing for a moment and think of bigger things…"
Rather than look angry, Steve gave her a half smile. "I don't think that'll help change their minds."
"It was not about that. I just wanted them to put aside their differences to support a friend. Also, they were making my headache worse. Or it could be the eggs. Weird."
At that point, Tony came up to them. "Look, I'm sorry for your loss. Genuinely. I never mentioned it but I do remember Peggy from my youth. She and Dad were lifelong friends. Whenever I visited him at work and she was there, she was always good and kind to me. I do remember one night when she came to the house and she told Dad to stop acting like a jerk and pay attention to me."
"She always had people's best interest at heart," Steve replied.
"Last time I saw her was after I got back from Afghanistan. By then she had been put into a home and was losing her memory. She called me Howard about three times before she realised that Dad had died twenty years ago. She was at the funeral obviously. She never patronised me by saying she was sorry for my loss. She was grieving too so you know. Peggy was a great woman."
Steve nodded. "She really was. Thank you, Tony."
-o-
Wanda had offered to join Steve for the funeral but Steve insisted she needed some rest after a day of feeling under the weather. She insisted that he at least take Sam with him so he wasn't alone.
The funeral was painful. Steve really found it hard not to cry as he carried the coffin into the church. He actually felt like throwing up. Even though he loved Wanda, Steve had never stopped loving Peggy. Wanda understood it. If something were to happen to Steve, Wanda would never stop loving him. He was her first love and Peggy was Steve's. As he lay the coffin down and took his seat, Steve knew he could finally let her go. He smiled softly as Sharon made her eulogy. He imagined that Peggy would be proud of Sharon for holding such dignity, despite clearly being upset. To his surprise, Natasha arrived after the service to inform him of who has signed the Accords. As expected, it was Tony, Vision, Rhodey and Natasha that had signed. Wanda was still deciding.
"How is she feeling?" Steve asked rather concerned about his girlfriend's health.
"She's feeling a lot better the last I checked."
"Good."
"I'm off to Vienna for the signing of the Accords. There's plenty of room on the jet. 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? I'm sorry Nat, I can't sign it."
"I know."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"I don't want you to be alone."
Even though they might have their difference of opinion, Steve had great respect for Natasha as a woman and friend. He could slightly understand why she would want to sign: lack of control had been her worst fear but she did not seem to realise that she should be controlling herself not having someone do it for her, which is what Steve was worried about. Nevertheless, when Natasha hugged him, he hugged back. Steve decided to go back to the hotel and call Wanda. He just wanted to hear her voice. He saw Sharon in the lobby and thought it would be polite to make conversation.
"Your speech was great," he told her.
"Thanks. You were really good today. Is Wanda with you?"
"No, she's not feeling well. She wanted to come but I insisted she needed the rest." Steve laughed slightly. "Sorry. I always imagine Peggy would go out the last woman fighting."
"I know. Peaceful just seemed strange but it's a relief to know it wasn't painful."
"It is I guess."
"Steve," Sam shouted running up to them. "Somethings happened."
The three ran up to Sharon's hotel room and switched on the news. The UN building in Vienna had been bombed, killing King T'Chaka of Wakanda among others. It looked as though someone did not agree with the Accords. After Sharon got off the phone, she told the two men, "I have to go to work."
-o-
Wanda could sense something was up. When she woke from her nap, she found a cold cup of tea on the side of the bed and she had no missed calls. She thought that was odd given that the funeral would have been over by now and Steve would want to hear her voice. She looked around for the television remote but could not find it anywhere, throwing around her bed sheets, taking out all the draws and even looked in the en-suite.
"Have you lost something?" a calm voice asked from behind her. Wanda jumped with fright and her heart pounded heavily. She turned to her doorway and saw Vision standing there. "Sorry, I heard some banging and I thought you were hurt."
"No, Vision. I just can't find the television remote." Wanda felt slightly dizzy and went to sit on the rumpled bed. "I just wanted to see if something had happened because Steve hasn't called." Her phone rang finally and she looked at Vision as if to tell him to leave. Vision nodded and left her. Wanda grabbed the phone. "Steve, I've been waiting for your call."
"Sorry, something came up. Someone bombed the UN building in Vienna and they think it's Bucky who did it."
"Why?" Wanda immediately went to shut the door.
"They found security footage of him. I don't think it was him. I have a gut feeling."
"What are you going to do?" she whispered.
"I'm going to Bucharest. Sam and I have managed to track him there. Wanda, listen to me, don't tell anyone where we are."
"I think something is up. Vision is acting weird around me and I can't find the remote to my television anywhere."
"Just play along Doll. I'll be back soon, I promise. I love you."
"I love you too. Stay safe."
-o-
Steve breathed nervously as he walked into Bucky's hideout. The old Romanian apartment was hardly the Hilton. The floors were filthy, there was no bed, and the wallpaper was falling off. The fact that his best friend was living in such a condition was slightly horrifying. He then found a book with all the research he had done on Steve, even finding a photo of Steve and Wanda sharing a kiss in the park. It looked to come from a trashy celebrity magazine. He kind of wondered what Bucky thought of this photo.
"Heads up Cap. German Special Forces approaching from the south," Sam warned over the coms.
"Understood," Steve replied. Steve felt as though someone was behind him and he turned to see Bucky, disheveled with his uncut hair, slight stubble, and rumpled clothes. Just the appearance of him made Steve's heart break slightly. "Do you know me?"
"You're Steve," Bucky answered. "I read about you in a museum."
"They've set the perimeter," Sam warned.
Steve put the book down and walked over to his friend, "I know you're nervous, and you have plenty of reason to be, but you're lying."
"I wasn't in Vienna. I don't do that anymore."
"They're entering the building."
"Well, the people who think you did they're coming here now, and their not planning on taking you alive," Steve told him calmly.
"That's smart. Good strategy."
"They're on the roof. I'm compromised."
"This doesn't have to end in a fight Buck," Steve pleaded slightly.
"It always ends in a fight," Bucky said.
"Five seconds."
"You pulled me from the river! Why?"
Bucky removed the glove that covered his metal hand and looked at Steve. "I don't know."
"Yes, you do."
All of a sudden they were ambushed by armed forced and it was not long before Bucky managed to escape from the struggle. Steve followed in order to not let Bucky out of his sight. Only he was not the only one in pursuit. There was another in a black suit with a face like a panther that seemed intent of catching Bucky. In the end, the Special Forces caught up with them, as did Rhodey. The man in the black suit removed his mask. It was the new King of Wakanda, T'Challa.
-o-
Wanda could smell something cooking, which begged the question as to why Vision was making dinner as he did not eat food. She had to admit she found the smell overwhelming but it did smell faintly of something. "Is that paprikash?" she asked walking into the kitchen.
"I thought it might lift your spirits," he explained.
Wanda smiled a bit. At least he was trying to be nice. She tried the dish. She actually felt a little sick eating it. She did not know if it was just her disposition or the fact that Vision just could not cook. Despite this, she smiled politely and nodded, "Sprits lifted."
Vision could tell she was trying not to hurt his feelings. "In my defence, I-I haven't ever actually eaten anything before."
"May I?" she asked as a means of trying to salvage the dish.
"Please." Vision began as he walked around the counter. "Wanda?"
"Hmm?"
"No one dislikes you, Wanda."
Wanda did not know whether to be insulted or not. "Thanks?"
"Oh, you're welcome. No, it's an involuntary response in their amygdala. They can't help but be afraid of you."
"Are you?"
"My amygdala is synthetic so..."
Wanda laughed but soon grew serious. "I used to think of myself one way. But after my enhancement, I am something else. I'm still me I think, but that's not everyone else sees. Except for Steve, and maybe that is why I love him so much, because even after I exposed a wound in his memories, he still saw me as a person."
Vision decided to empathise with her, pointing to the Mind Gem in his head. "Do you know, I don't know what this is. Not really. I know it's not of this world, that it powered Loki's staff, gave you your abilities, but its true nature is a mystery. And yet, it is part of me."
"Are you afraid of it?"
"I wished to understand it. The more I do the less it controls me. One day, who knows, I may even control it."
Wanda thought it best to change the conversation as she felt it something just was not right about it and so returned to the dish. "I don't know what's in this, but it's not paprika. I'm going to go to the store. I'll be back in twenty minutes."
Vision blocked her way. "Alternatively, we could order a pizza."
Wanda began to feel nervous, but chose to hide it by calmly asking, "Vision, are you not letting me leave?"
"It is a question of safety."
"I can protect myself."
As she tried to move past him, Vision blocked her again only with his arm and she was now feeling incredibly uncomfortable. "Not yours. Mr Stark would like to avoid the possibility of another public incident. Until the Accords are on a more secure foundation."
Whatever nervousness she felt was now replaced by anger. After having that conversation, Vision had manipulated and deceived her. She had revealed things only she had talked about with Steve or Pietro and she felt like a child being patronised by Tony, who she had only just grown to trust.
"And what do you want," she asked firmly and calmly.
"For people to see you as I do."
There was a bile in Wanda's stomach. She knew he was manipulating her and she was not surprised given what was giving him his power, and some part of her wondered in the remains of Ultron existed in his system somewhere.
"In that case, I should like to go to my room," Wanda stated, her voice still calm. Vision allowed her to go pass.
Wanda knew she was taking a risk, and she knew she could escape by herself, but she would have no way of getting to Europe without help. She worried about Pietro. Even though he was hardly a danger, the government would assume that the first place she would go would be L.A. Knowing that Vision could be lurking outside her door, she decided against calling someone. Instead, she sent messages to Pietro and the only other person on the continent she could trust at the moment.
MESSAGE PIETRO: Pietro, I'm being held hostage in the Avengers facility. I have a plan so don't worry. If anyone asks you questions, don't say a word. I'm going to find Steve and I swear when this is all over I will come back to you. I love you.
MESSAGE CLINT BARTON: SOS.
