It had been almost two weeks and Tony had managed to avoid all contact with his former teammates so far. Nat and Rhodey had been running interference whenever they had tried to find him and FRIDAY wouldn't let them up into his rooms or down to the workshop and would warn him if they were headed in his direction. He knew he couldn't avoid them forever and he would have to start treating Barnes at some point.

He'd cleared out a training room on the second floor, set it up for the B.A.R.F and filled the corners with colourful beanbags and blankets. He knew what it was like to wake up from a panic attack inducing nightmare and Barnes' B.A.R.F treatment was likely to feel the same. He figured the colours and textures might help ground him and if nothing else, at least it wouldn't feel like a lab or whatever dungeon, lair or cell HYDRA kept him in.

He was standing in the doorway of the room, hands absentmindedly fiddling with a B.A.R.F. headset when Steve found him. Lost in his thoughts, he's missed FRIDAY's warning.

"Tony, I've been looking for you."

The clatter as he dropped the headset was jarringly loud, echoing in his head slightly. He took a deep breath, and plastered a smirk on his face before he turned to face Steve. "Well, you're looking at me now Captain."

Steve frowned. Tony had seemed more agreeable during his press conference, humbler even. It seemed that was all just another performance. He was still as arrogant and rude as before. Crossing his arms he took a step closer and looked down at Tony. "We need to talk."

Tony raised an eyebrow, "Well make it snappy Cappy, I've got work to do." It was taking everything he had not to flinch back into the room and slam the door in Roger's face.

"You are impossible." Steve took another step forward. Tony held his ground, barely concealing a jerk.

—

"Agent Romanov, Rogers has cornered Boss." Nat glanced up from her book at the sound of FRIDAY's voice.

"Where are they?"

"The B.A.R.F. room. Please hurry."

—

Nat slowed from her sprint just as she reached them. She could hear Steve's raised voice and as she rounded the corner, she saw him staring down at Tony, towering over him.

"This is ridiculous Tony, you're acting like a child."

"Steve. Step. Back." Natasha's voice snapped through the corridor.

"Nat, I'm fine, you don't need…" Tony started.

"No I don't, but I'm not going to let him stand over you like that." She glared until Steve took a step back.

"Tony, we just want to talk to you." Steve spoke at a more moderate volume, not wanting to anger Nat.

"Well I don't want to talk." Tony ground out.

"Tony, come on." When he didn't reply, Steve sighed, "Will you at least move us out of those rooms? What happened to our old rooms?"

"They were turned into training rooms, what's wrong with the ones you have now?" Tony was starting to fidget, he needed to get away.

"They're tiny, we don't even have our own bathrooms."

"Steve, that's the standard accomodation at the facility now." Nat interjected, her arms folded, still glaring slightly.

"Well, since that's settled, I have things to do, actual work and all that. Good talk." And with that, Tony pushed past Steve. He made a beeline for the elevator, ignoring Steve calling out after him.

"FRIDAY, straight to the workshop. Thanks baby." He slumped against the wall, clutching at his chest once the door closed.

By the time he stumbled into the workshop, he was hyperventilating. DUM-E whirred worriedly from his charging bay. "I'm okay, just gimme a sec." He all but gasped, collapsing beside his desk.

Technically, the B.A.R.F. tech was complete, he'd even finished all the modifications required to tailor it to Barnes' treatment. That didn't mean he couldn't find more things to upgrade. Tony lost himself in the tech until he didn't feel like he was losing his mind anymore.

—

"Rogers I've already told you, stop trying to talk to Tony." Natasha glared up at Steve.

"We just had some requests, it's not even about the Avengers or the Accords." Steve crossed his arms, a stubborn gleam in his eyes.

"You have no right to request anything anymore." She wouldn't give any ground either, two could play this game. "Leave him alone."

Steve glared a moment longer before letting out a huff and turning his back to storm away. He'd already had this argument with Nat, twice. He returned to their floor and found Sam in the kitchen.

"They're being impossible." He bit out as he collapsed into a chair.

Sam raised an eyebrow, "You'll have to be a little more specific."

"Tony." After a beat, Steve added, "and Nat."

"She still won't let you talk to Stark?" Sam grabbed the coffee from the machine and walked over to join Steve at the table.

"I actually managed to run into Tony today. He barely even listened and refused to come meet with us." Steve worked his jaw in frustration.

"Maybe you should just let it be Steve." Sam said gently. "It's not all that long. We'll get through this, the rooms aren't that big a deal."

"Its not just about the rooms." Steve huffed. "Its about Bucky's treatment, I just don't trust Tony has his best interests at heart. And he's still pushing for the Accords too."

"I read the Accords, they're not actually that bad. And they're still working on them. If we sign, we'll get a say in that too." Sam offered thoughtfully. He'd also been talking to Rhodes about it since they'd gotten back and he could see their merit. He still had some reservations, particularly about the registration sections but Stark had been working on those.

"Sam, we can't let them control us." Steve protested loudly.

"Steve, you're welcome to do what you want, but I think I'm going to sign." He wanted to talk it over a bit more but he didn't want to retire. "I hope you do to, but thats up to you. I'm headed to talk to Colonel Rhodes about the Accords in an hour if you wanted to come?" He had a feeling Steve would refuse but he wanted to at least offer.

Steve raised an eyebrow "He's not going to change my mind Sam."

"Are you really willing to retire though? Because those are your only options now Steve. You knew that when you got on the plane in Wakanda."

Steve grimaced and let out a frustrated sigh. "I'll think about it." Maybe they shouldn't have come back after all. They had been thinking of going off on their own, their only problem had been finding the funding to maintain their equipment and their lack of transport.

He wasn't ready to retire but he didn't think the Accords were the answer either. But at this point, it was one or the other. Sam seemed to think with some work they'd be a suitable option so perhaps he could help change them so they would have more freedom.

Perhaps that way Tony would see they were trying to meet him in the middle and stop attempting to avoid them all the time and things would go back to the way they were.

—

Sam had been meeting with Rhodes since they'd returned to the US. At first it was to apologise. Sam expected to be met with animosity but Rhodes had been very gracious and had told him that there was nothing to forgive, it was an unfortunate accident, no more his fault than it was Vision's.

They'd formed a friendship of sorts, both having been pilots and bonded over their love of flying. It had eventually turned to the Accords and Sam realised there was a lot more to them than he had initially thought. Sam read up on them properly and read about the changes and updates that had occurred. As they spoke more Sam found he didn't find them all that restrictive, in fact, they were very similar to the way in which the UN already regulated peace keeping and peace enforcement. It was just more specific to a super human team as opposed to the military.

Rhodes had a point, 117 countries wanted those Accords signed. The Avengers couldn't just keep jumping in and interfering as they pleased. There was a fine line between a duty to help because they had the power and respecting sovereign borders of other nations.

In all honesty, what the Avenger's had been doing was often disruptive and whilst they had good intentions, they often hadn't considered the effects of their actions and the collateral damage they would cause. He understood Steve's wariness of authority, especially after SHIELD but Rhodes was right, they couldn't just ignore the wishes of 117 nations.

Stark had made sure that as a team they would have veto powers to refuse missions and as individuals they would not have to participate in missions they did not want to either. However, the Accords council would need to approve any missions before they were conducted. The team would need to show they had considered any collateral damage the necessity of their involvement. They'd gotten by in the past only because Stark had funded clean up and restoration after they'd gone in and torn the place up.

Sam knew Lang had decided to retire and was going back to his family soon, but the others hadn't made a decision yet. Wanda didn't really have much choice but to sign, Sokovia would not take her back and she had no reason to stay in the US if she didn't sign.

He hoped Steve would sign, he didn't really care either way what the others decided, but he'd gotten into this mess following Steve and he still believed in him, maybe not as a leader but as a friend. He didn't think Steve would retire but he could be damn stubborn sometimes. Perhaps with the amendments and changes that were being discussed, he might be more open, especially now that Barnes was safe too.

—

Scott had come to an arrangement with the Accords Council and was to be moved to San Francisco the next week. He'd spend almost two year under house arrest but he'd be with his daughter again. He'd had enough of the rest of 'Team Cap'. Sam was the only other person who'd been productive, learning about the accords and the new set up of the Avengers. Probably with the intention to sign. Scott knew Sam had been meeting with the Accords Council, they'd bumped into each other a few times at their offices.

"This is bullshit." Barton was grumbling, arguing with Wilson, as Scott walked into the common room. He sighed a little, tuning out Barton's continued complaining as he made himself coffee. He knew his family had only spoken to him once since he'd come back. From what he understood, Laura didn't want to talk to him unless he decided to retire.

Sitting down, he took a couple of the pancakes from the tower on the table. They ate most of their meals at the mess but occasionally someone would try cooking something. Whoever had made the pancakes had done a decent job. The rest of the team was sitting at the table with the exception of Rogers, who was probably at the gym.

"Morning Barnes." He mumbled through a mouthful of pancake to the man beside him.

"Mornin' Lang." The assassin responded softly. "You goin' home soon?"

"Yeah, I can't wait to see Cassie." He flashed a grin.

"She's your kid right?" Barnes' eyebrows furrowed a little.

"Yeah, I miss her." Scott said between bites.

Barnes was smiled at him. "I'm sure she misses you too."

At this point, Barton had started yelling and Barnes' smile quickly turn into a grimace, rolling his eyes at the archer on the other side of the table.

"What, you gonna tell me you're happy imprisoned here huh?" Barton shot at him.

"Happier than I would be in an actual prison." Barnes glared back.

"We wouldn't have even needed these pardons if it wasn't for Stark and his Accords." Barton argued.

"You forget my charges had nothin' to do with the Accords, and Stark wasn't the one who dreamt 'em up." Barnes pointed out exasperatedly and rolled his eyes again.

"I might not be his biggest fan but if it wasn't for him, we'd be back in the Raft. We made our decisions Barton, now we're dealing with the consequences." Wilson added, swallowing his mouthful.

"Well you're all about the Accords now aren't you, Wilson?" Barton shot. "You gonna move into Stark's penthouse now? Would make it easier for you to suck his dick."

It seemed Barton must have just found out Wilson was planning to sign. Barnes' obviously hadn't known either, his eyebrow raised in surprise. "Does that mean Steve is gonna sign too?"

"Of course he's not." Maximoff scoffed, finally chiming in.

"He said he'd consider it, and I don't think he's about to retire." Sam said at the same time, shrugging when she glared at him. "Well what else is he going to do? What are you going to do? You know they'll send you back to Sokovia if you don't sign. And they will put you in jail."

Scott tuned out again as the others continued arguing. He couldn't wait to go home. He wished he'd never left, but who was going to say no to Captain America? Sighing a little he shook the thought from his mind, he could make his own informed decisions, he'd chosen not to look past the surface and that was on him. Anything past that was his own fault.

He finished off his pancakes and went to clean his dishes. Barnes had slipped out at some point and left the common room. Scott knew Rogers was due to come back from the gym soon and if he didn't know any better, he would have thought Barnes was avoiding his old friend.