Chapter 2
A/N - And we're back!
Madison awoke with a start.
"Whoa, easy there Kolibri", she heard. Pietro was lying next to her.
"How long have I been out?"
"A little longer than a day".
"How's Wanda?"
"She feels guilty of course".
"If I could have fixed that building…"
"Don't. You're not to blame Madison. Neither of you are". Pietro brushed some hair behind her ear and leaned down, pressing his lips to hers.
Madison rolled on her side and returned the kiss, hooking her leg around his waist.
Pietro's hand stroked her thigh as they kissed.
In a second, Madison was on top of him. On instinct, Madison's hips rocked into his.
"Madison", Pietro groaned, grabbing onto her sides.
They heard a throat clear and Vision was standing there awkwardly. "There is a meeting", he said and walked back through the wall.
It seemed they were always getting interrupted by someone. On the farm, they had to sneak around her father and siblings, but things were harder in Avengers HQ. If it wasn't another member of the team, it was a mission.
"I really hate that guy", Pietro muttered.
"You just don't like him because he and Wanda have a thing".
"My twin does not have 'a thing' with the Vision".
"Keep telling yourself that", Madison said pecking Pietro on the lips before she got up.
They made their way to the area where they normally held meetings.
"The Lovebirds. Good of you to finally join us", a man, who Madison recognized as General Ross, said.
Pietro and Madison took a seat at the table.
"Five years ago, I had a heart attack and dropped right in the middle of my backswing. It 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", General Ross said.
Madison wondered where he was going with this.
"The world owes the Avengers an unpayable debt. You have fought for us, protected us, and risked your lives, but while a great many people see you as heroes, there are some who would prefer to word "vigilantes".
"And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" Natasha asked.
"How about "dangerous"? What would you call a group of US-based, enhanced individuals who routinely ignore sovereign borders and inflict their will where they choose and who frankly, seem unconcerned about what they leave behind?"
General Ross brought up a map that showed footage of their many battles. "New York".
Madison couldn't watch the footage. She had been through hell during that battle and nearly lost her life.
Pietro reached over and took her hand in his to comfort her.
"Washington, DC".
Another painful memory for Madison. The incident which had ended with her final break-up with Steve.
"Sokovia".
The twins looked the most uncomfortable watching their homeland being destroyed again. It was the place that created them and nearly ended their lives.
"Lagos".
Wanda was the one most upset by the footage of the destruction she had caused. So much so that she couldn't even look at the screen.
"Okay. That's enough", Steve said.
"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", General Ross told them, "But I think we have a solution". General Ross placed a booklet on the table. "The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 countries, it stated 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".
"So you want to control us?" Madison asked, "That's not how we work".
"Madison's right. The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that", Steve said.
"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" General Ross asked, "How about you, Miss Barton?"
Madison kept her mouth shut.
"If I misplaced a couple of 300 megaton nukes, you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground".
"So, there are contingencies", Rhodey asked.
"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords", General Ross said, "Talk it over".
Steve looked at Tony, who had been eerily silent.
"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" Natasha asking the question that was on everyone's mind.
"Then you retire", Ross said.
This was not good. Not good at all.
A/N - Who's side do you think Madison will take? Steve or Tony? Leave me your theories and opinions!