"Get up! Get up! Get up!" Someone was shouting while they jumped on our bed.
"Jesus Christ! What is it!" Clint yelled in annoyance as we both were woken from our sleep. Opening my eyes I saw Wanda jumping off of the bed.
Last night-well I guess early, early this morning Clint and I checked out of our hotel and took the quinjet back to the tower with the team, and spent the night. Pops even decided to spend the night at the compound.
"What time is it?" Asking exhausted because we didn't go to bed until four in the morning.
"It's just past nine!" She grinned at us.
"And you woke us up because?" Clint questioned still very annoyed from our interrupted sleep.
"Because you guys need to eat breakfast and then Beth and I need to get Dottie ready." Wanda excitedly told us.
"Ready for what?" Asking confused as I was trying to wake up.
"For your engagement pictures!" Wanda clapped "I'll be taking them of course!"
"Oh, God." I groaned and dropped back against Clint.
"Come on we don't have all day and the lighting won't wait for us!" The teenager beamed before skipping out of the room.
"I'm assuming we don't really have a choice." Wondering aloud to Clint.
"You would be correct." He sighed as he dropped his head back against the pillows.
An hour later I was thrust into a dress I had never seen before. It was a fit and flare of deep navy blue with cap sleeves, a scooped neckline, and was covered in little white polka dots. After that Beth and Wanda did my makeup-well Wanda did it in like 20 seconds and then added another 20 seconds to create perfectly retro curls with my hair.
Clint was put into a light grey button-down shirt, rolled at the sleeves with dark blue jeans. Then Wanda and Beth ushered us outside the compound to the surrounding tall fields and woods where we spent three hours being directed by Wanda and Beth while Wanda snapped away.
By the time we got back into the compound Clint and I were tired and grumpy from the lack of sleep and our faces hurt from smiling so much. Wanda assured us it would be worth it when she edited the pictures and sent them to us.
We sat down with the team for an early dinner before Clint and I would be taken back to NYC by Nat via quinjet so we could drive back to D.C.
"So any ideas on a date yet?" Sam asked as we started eating.
"No idea." Shrugging my shoulders.
"Really?" Wanda looked at us like we were nuts.
"We did just get engaged last night," Clint said in a slow voice like it was a difficult thing to explain to them. It hadn't even been a full 24 hours yet.
"It literally happened last night. There hasn't been much time to start planning." Deadpanning to her and Sam.
"Yeah let them catch their breaths first." Steve chided to the pair. I shot him a quick smile of gratitude. He gave me a wink in return.
"I mean you must have some idea of what you want," Tony said.
I shook my head, "I mean not really? I'm not one of those girls who has had their weddings planned out since they were like ten." Slyly looking over at Beth who became red.
"Well, whatever you plan I'm sure it's going to be great, as long as we're invited." Rhodey joked.
"I think we can spare the room." Clint quipped with a grin.
"I'd rather keep it small. Family and close friends. Maybe a few people from work." Adding to the conversation and Clint nodded in agreement. We both were on the same page that we didn't want our wedding to be a spectacle.
My face fell when I thought about the word family.
Mom.
Grandma.
My throat suddenly became tight with unshed tears.
"Baby?" Clint instantly picked up on my sudden change.
"Sorry." Shaking my head as I apologized, "It's just…" Trailing off looking at Pops.
"I know. I know." I could see the tears in his eyes.
"But they'd be so happy for you." Pops smiled at me as he thought of mom and grandma.
"It's just going to be hard. Especially when I go dress shopping." Quickly wiping away a few tears that managed to escape, "Not to have mom and grandma there to help."
Clint rubbed my arm as he kissed my head.
"But you'll have me." Beth offered me a warm smile as she gave me a hug.
"And me!" Wanda added with a smile of her own.
"And me," Nat said nonchalantly like it wasn't a big deal.
My eyes went wide as I stared at her.
She just shrugged her shoulders "It'd be interesting to see what all the fuss is about." But deep down I knew she was doing this for me. To make sure I'd have the best experience. If we weren't surrounded by everyone else, I would have gone up and wrapped her in a grateful hug.
"And me if you want." Pepper shyly said.
"Of course. That's-" Pausing as I wiped away a few more tears "That's amazing of you all to offer. It means a lot." Managing to give them a watery smile of gratitude.
"I'll gladly offer my services as well!" Tony eagerly pipped up.
"No!" We all shouted out.
~Three months later~
Irritatingly Wanda was right. The engagement pictures were gorgeous. Though it did take her a week to send them to us so I took a last-minute picture of my engagement ring and posted it on Instagram the Monday morning before I went to work instead of someone at work spilling the beans to the press that Clint and I had become engaged.
By the time I got to work my phone was blowing up notifications and messages. Everyone at work congratulated me and clamored to see my beautiful ring. Even Diana managed to plaster on a fake smile and say a cheerful note. I had news outlets and magazines wanting quotes and photos from Clint and me. Everyone was offering me the exclusive. Naturally, we turned them all down.
When Wanda sent me the engagement photos to go through, Clint and I selected one and sent it to Pepper so she could draft a formal press release on the news of our engagement through the media channels. That came with a whole new round of requests for interviews, with a whole new round of rejections.
The press and paparazzi briefly camped outside our house for a few days before giving up and going once they realized we wouldn't give them anything.
I quickly realized I would need to be discreet when I was making an appointment to try on wedding dresses. Pepper was very helpful on that front. When we went to the bridal salon last weekend so I could try on gowns we had the discretion of the whole store staff, and the place was closed for our visit. The last thing I needed was for someone to leak photos of me on the internet trying on wedding gowns. True to their words, Beth, Wanda, Pepper, and even Nat came with me to the appointment. Pops insisted on tagging along.
After trying on three dresses, I knew I had found the one with dress number four.
The off the shoulder ivory dress, with shirred sleeves and a full skirt, was a dream. A touch of eyelash lace at the bodice added to the gown gorgeously, and the airy layers made the gown swish and move beautifully. It would work perfectly for the ceremony and reception at the Botanical Gardens, which we had nailed down the previous week as our venue.
When the consultant added a beaded floral belt and the cathedral-length lace veil-Pops in a rare moment of weakness burst out crying, saying I looked beautiful.
Everyone else agreed.
Looking back at myself in the mirror I had to agree with them. In one of the few rare times in my life, I felt beautiful.
My heart was saddened a bit by not having mom and grandma with me, but the long hug I got from Pops when I said I was choosing my dress, made it better.
Nat commented however I could be wearing a potato sack and Clint still thought I'd be the most marvelous thing he'd ever seen.
Speaking of Nat…
"Can you remind Nat again to get her best woman dress." Saying to Clint from my spot on the couch. It was Friday and I was working from home today. I had tabs open on my email and my Pinterest wedding pages.
Naturally, Clint asked Nat to be his best woman, and I asked Beth to be my maid of honor with Wanda acting as a second bridesmaid. Steve had been surprisingly emotional when Clint asked him to be his second groomsmen. It was quite adorable how choked up he became.
"I'll remind her again but you know she is going to buy it the weekend before," Clint said as he sat down next to me.
"Uh, she will not!" Answering with a scowl "She needs to have time to get it fitted. She can literally, pick any dress she wants as long as it's black."
Since Nat was in the groom's party, she got off easy wearing a black dress. In the same appointment for me to get my wedding dress, I also selected a deep plum, one shoulder maxi dress with a slit and gathered details at the waist for Beth and Wanda.
"Like I said she has it easy." Reminding Clint.
"I'd text her but she's still on assignment with Steve, Sam, and Wanda to find Rumlow." Clint took a sip of his coffee as he worked on his computer. He was in the process of setting up an Etsy webpage to sell his homemade furniture and pieces. At my nagging of course.
"How convenient." Joking with an eye-roll.
We worked in quiet for a while until our phones started going off.
"What the?" Questioning as I looked at Clint.
Picking up my phone I saw it was Beth.
"Beth, what's up?" Asking as I picked up.
"Turn on the news." She said darkly.
Picking up the remote I turned on the TV and changed the channel to CNN.
"Oh my God." Paling as I read the screen.
Avengers Mission in Lagos, Nigeria gone Wrong-Numerous Killed in Fight between the Avengers Team and Mercenaries
We were waiting for the small team when they got back to the compound. After we saw the report on the news Beth, Clint, and I made our way upstate to the compound. The rest of the team was already convened and waiting. The atmosphere was grim. Tony was stressed because government agency after government agency was calling him nonstop for answers.
We knew there would need to be an official statement and press conference as well as written reports to the CIA, FBI, and the State Department, and the President.
So far the death toll from the explosion was at 19 the last time Pepper informed us.
None of that seemed to matter as much though when the quinjet landed and the small team of my friends got off looking exhausted, guilty and conflicted.
When I saw Wanda my heart nearly broke. She walked out of the quinjet with Sam and Steve supporting her, each holding onto one of her arms. She looked a mess. Her face was so splotchy and red from crying, well still currently crying. When she saw me she broke off from Steve and Sam and ran into my open arms and I cradled her close to give her love. Nat had told us that she hadn't stopped crying since the explosion over 34 hours ago.
Beth ran over to Sam and wrapped him in a hug. They stayed glued together for long seconds not saying anything. Steve looked devastated. Natasha as always remained impassive.
"Sssh it's alright I got you," I whispered to Wanda as I rocked her back and forth.
"Let's get you into bed. You need to rest." Mothering her as I began to lead her inside.
"We need to have a meeting," Tony said to us as we walked by.
"It can wait!" Snapping at him with a harshness. Right now, all that mattered that the team decompressed, and Wanda got some rest and fluids.
"We need to-" Tony continued but Clint cut him off.
"Not now Stark!" He lowly hissed at the billionaire as he blocked him from getting to me and Wanda.
Tony looked like he was about to object but my fierce gaze shut him up. I continued to lead Wanda back inside, my body trying not to shake from fury at Tony's insensitivity.
I stayed up with Wanda for hours, but it did little to comfort her. In the end, Tony had to give her a sedative to get her to sleep and stuck an IV in her arm to keep her hydrated.
I had been staring at her sleeping form for almost two hours now and I decided I needed answers as to what the hell happened.
"FRIDAY?" Openly asking the AI unit.
"Yes, Dorothy?" She answered back.
"Can you tell Vision to come to Wanda's room, and tell me where Steve is?" Asking her.
"Captain Rogers is in his study, and I have given Vision the message." She replied.
A few moments later Vision floated up from the floor.
"Hey, can you stay with her? I want to talk to Steve and I know she'll be out until morning but I don't want her to be alone." Explaining to the AI superhero/kind of Wanda's sweetheart? The last time the redhead and I chatted about the said AI unit before me neither of them confessed anything concrete to each other about how they felt.
"Consider it done Dorothy." Vision nodded and took a seat in the chair I had just vacated.
"Thanks, Vision." Giving him a small, tired smile before I left the room and made my way to Steve.
The door was open but I still gave a soft knock.
Steve lifted his eyes at the sound. He looked so tired.
"Hey." He said to me.
"Hey," I replied.
"Where's Clint?" Steve asked me.
"He's helping Nat work stuff out in the gym." Responding as I took a seat across from him.
We both were quiet for a moment before I broke the silence "What the hell happened Steve?"
He sighed and shook his head "Everything was fine. I had Rumlow I had him. But he distracted me and I didn't even see the bomb until it was too late. I would have died too and so would the civilians around me but Wanda was behind me and she levitated him. She thought she had control over him but…" He trailed off because we knew the ending of the story.
"How did he distract you?" Questioning him.
"Bucky." He whispered.
I went still.
"He said that Bucky remembered me. 'You know he knew you. Your pal, your buddy, your Bucky. He remembered you. I was there, he got all weepy about it, til they put his brain back into a blender.'" Steve sneered as he imitated Rumlow.
"Rumlow said Bucky and I couldn't even think anymore." Steve's eyes watered "It's all my fault. All of this." Steve hung his head in shame.
"I think the blame lies with the insane man with the bomb playing the role of the human torch." I softly said to him as I got up and went over and hugged him.
"None of this is your fault, Steve. Nor is it's Wanda. If Wanda had done nothing then Rumlow would have still died and taken you and a hundred other people with him." I soothed him and thought it best not to mention that I thought Wanda shouldn't have even been there in the first place, but he felt horrible enough as is.
"It will be okay. We just need to give it time." I tried to soothe but we both knew it was a lie.
This was not going to go away easily.
This was going to change everything and we both knew it. We all knew it.
I was right.
It didn't get better. It only got worse.
Phenomenally worse when it was discovered that 11 of the 19 killed in the office explosion were Wakandans visiting Lagos on an outreach mission at the time.
A month had passed and the embers of anger were still threatening to ignite.
Many in the world were now crying out that between the events in Lagos and Sokovia the Avengers had gone too far. Things needed to change. They needed to be controlled.
None of this helped ease Wanda's guilt and her own pain. Every weekend Clint and I went back up to the compound in the month following the explosion, but our presence did little to help anyone, most of all Wanda.
She and I were sitting in her room. She was watching the news. Again. I had given up trying to get her to turn it off.
On the screen, the President of Wakanda was holding a press conference basically condemning Wanda and the team for the lives of the Wakandans lost.
Suddenly the TV turned off. Turning around I saw Steve standing in the doorway putting the remote back down.
I mouthed him a 'Thank you.'
"It's my fault," Wanda said as she stared back at the now black TV screen.
Letting out a sigh I knew better by now to argue with her on how this whole thing wasn't her fault.
"That's not true," Steve replied.
"Turn the TV back on. They're being very specific." She countered back to him.
"I should have clocked that bomb vest long before you had to deal with it." Steve said as he moved into the room, "Rumlow said 'Bucky' and all of a sudden I was a 16-year-old kid again in Brooklyn." He sighed as he sat down on the bed next to us.
"And people died." He said quietly, "It's on me."
"It's on both of us," Wanda said trying to level the heavy burden of guilt.
"It's on neither of you. It's on the psycho with the bomb strapped to him who intended to kill as many people as he could." I finally broke in interrupting their guilt-blaming party.
"This job…you guys try and save as many people as you can. Sometimes that doesn't mean everybody." Stressing to the both of them.
"But if we can't find a way to live with that, next time maybe nobody gets saved." Steve dejectedly said and before I had a chance to argue with him Vision floated through the wall into Wanda's room.
"Jesus Christ!" I exclaimed, almost jumping off the bed in fright. He really needed to start using the doors.
"Vis! We talked about this!" Wanda scolded the AI superhero.
"Yes, but the door was open so I assumed that…" He trailed off as he caught the three of us staring at him.
Vision cleared his throat in embarrassment, "Captain Rogers wished to know when Mr. Stark was arriving."
"Oh joy," I muttered under my breath. Wanda's lips upturned into a small smirk. At least it was something.
"Thank you. We'll be right down." Steve thanked Vision.
"I'll use the door." Vision gestured to the open doorway. Closing my eyes I shook my head so I wouldn't let the sarcastic comment escape my mouth.
"Oh, and apparently he's brought a guest." Vision informed us as he went to the door.
The three of us looked surprised. Who would Tony bring here at the stressful time?
"We know who it is?" Steve asked Vision.
"The Secretary of State," Vision told us.
"Thaddeus Ross!" Exclaiming in disgust, "Why on earth would Tony bring that man here!" Questioning to Vision who I'm sure had no idea, but was just the unfortunate outlet of my anger.
"You know him?" Wanda asked.
"Not personally, but I know his politics and policies. He's a complete asshole and a sniveling coward. All he cares about is himself and making sure his star is always on the rise." Scoffing as I thought of the parasite now waiting in the lounge.
"He cannot be trusted." Stressing to Steve, Wanda, and Vision.
The three superheroes regarded my words with a grim face as they looked at one another.
When I walked into the lounge with Wanda, Vision, and Steve as soon as Ross saw me he had a fit.
"She's not supposed to be here!" His shrill voice echoed in the room.
"She has a name that I know you know." I calmly responded even though I was ready to start hitting him.
"She is my fiancé," Clint said through a clenched jaw. Reaching over I took wrapped my hand around his to keep him calm.
"And she is family. Dorothy knows what's been going on. She stays." Steve firmly said as he verbally put his foot down to Ross.
My heart swelled with love and pride. Though on the outside I remained impassive. That is until Ross finally relented and turned his back on me.
…to which I stuck my tongue out at him for a brief moment.
It amused everyone. It even got a smirk out of Nat.
Well not everyone…Rhodey was not amused and Tony shot me a look before we all sat down.
Clint sat next to me, our hands still wrapped together while I sat on the other side of Wanda.
"Five years ago I had a heart attack and dropped right in the middle of my backswing. 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 never taught me." Ross started.
How to get to the damn point? I wondered in my head.
"Perspective." He gave a small smile and it was all I could do not to roll my eyes.
"The world owes the Avengers an unpayable debt." Ross continued "You've... fought for us. Protected us. Risked your lives. While a great many people see you as heroes. There are some... would prefer the word 'vigilantes.'"
"And what word would you use for us, Mr. Secretary?" Nat asked with a smirk.
"I'm guessing nuisances," I muttered under my breath quietly. I knew Clint had heard me by the way I saw his lips twitch into a smile before his face went back to being blank. But I felt him squeeze my leg.
"How about dangerous." Ross's face went serious, "What would you call a group of US-based, enhanced individuals, who routinely ignores sovereign borders and inflict their will wherever they choose and who, frankly, seem unconcerned about what they leave behind them." Ross stepped off to the side and a screen flashed to life with video footage.
"New York. Washington DC. Sokovia. Lagos." Ross said with each corresponding footage.
When Ross went to the Lagos footage and it showed a video of the dead, Wanda recoiled and looked away disgusted in herself. Reaching over I put a hand on her arm in comfort. I was about to tell Ross to shut off the screen but Steve beat me to it.
"Okay, that's enough." He said forcefully.
Ross turned off the screen but continued to talk "For the past four years, you operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution." Ross paused as his aid handed him a thick booklet.
My stomach started to churn with unease. This was not going to be good. He put the booklet down on the table and slid it to Wanda.
"The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 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." Ross told the group.
Everyone was quiet as they processed his words. My stomach did a series of flips.
No. This was not good at all.
Rhodey took the booklet and began to read.
"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that." Steve finally spoke as he looked at Ross.
Turning back I looked at Tony who was uncharacteristically remaining quiet throughout all this. Our eyes met but I said nothing before I turned back towards the table. A small thread of anger blooming in me.
"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." Ross smugly questioned Steve.
"Thor and Banner aren't threats." Clint interrupted Ross "Thor is dealing with things on Asgard and has proven to be an ally from day one. Banner disappeared to get away from this life. To get away from you." Clint hammered down the last part to make a point.
Ross's face hardened at Clint's words before he continued, "Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."
"So there are contingencies," Rhodey asked trying to keep the peace.
"Three days from now the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords," Ross told all of us. The atmosphere changed like a weight had been dropped.
The sickness in my stomach was only growing worse.
Steve turned back to look at Tony who in turn stared down at the floor before briefly flashing a gaze at Steve.
"Talk it over." Ross said as he gathered his things to leave, "Since Mr. Barton is already retired and out of duty, technically he is exempt from signing." Ross added as he looked at Clint but he did not look too pleased to be informing him of this.
"And if we come to decision that you don't like?" Natasha openly questioned.
"Then you retire." He replied with a tone of finality.
"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor, which is one more than you have." Rhodey countered to Sam.
It had been an hour since Ross had dropped his bomb and then left. We were now all gathered in the main living room where the team had been going back and forth for the better part of that said hour.
"So, let's say we agree to this thing. How long is it gonna be before they lo-jack us like a bunch of common criminals?" Sam countered back to him again.
Tony was resting on the lounge looking so done with Sam and this entire conversation. He had an air about him that suggested he knew what was best for all of them. It made my skin itch with irritation.
"A 117 countries want to sign this. 117, Sam, and you're just like, 'No, it's cool.'" Rhodey mocked him.
"How long are you going to play both sides?" Sam questioned in annoyance.
"I have an equation." Vision suddenly broke in.
"Oh, this will clear it up." Sam snorted and shook his head.
"In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man, the number of noted enhanced persons has grown exponentially. And during the same period, the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commissive rate." Vision stated.
Steve raised his eyebrows at him, "So you're saying it's our fault?"
"I'm saying there may be a causality. Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict... breeds catastrophe. Oversight. Oversight is not an idea that could be dismissed out-of-hand." Vision finished on a serious tone.
"Boom," Rhodey said smugly.
"Yes, but the problem didn't start with Tony." I said breaking in, "How long has Thor been alive? How long has Asgard existed? Enhanced individuals have been around far longer than we've known. You guys didn't start this. Just like how you didn't start the fight in New York. Loki did that. You didn't start the fight in Washington, Hydra did." Saying to them to get them to listen.
"And most of you weren't responsible for the actions that led to Sokovia." My eyes flickered at Tony and Vision. Tony didn't say anything but his gaze towards me was tinged in slight hate.
"And Wanda wasn't responsible for what happened in Lagos!" My frustration finally getting the better of me, "Do you know how many more people would have died if she didn't act quickly like she did. It's a tragic event that happened, but way more than 19 people would have died. Rumlow meant to take Steve and hundreds of other people with him."
The group was quiet after I had finished. Shaking my head I got up and went to the counter to make a cup of tea just to have something to do.
"Tony, you're being uncharacteristically non-hyperverbal," Nat commented.
"That's because he's already made up his mind." I bitterly said as I added boiling water to my mug. Flashing my eyes in Tony's direction.
"Boy, you know me so well." Tony rolled his eyes and got off the lounge.
"Actually, I'm nursing my electromagnetic headache. That's what's going on, Dottie. It's just pain. It's discomfort." He said as he stood up and went to the coffee machine.
"Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal? Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?" He said as he emptied the coffee tray into the garbage.
All of us looked at Vision who in response sunk down into his seat.
Tony pulled up his phone and a picture projected before us.
"Oh, that's Charles Spencer by the way. He's a great kid. Computer engineering degree. 3.6 GPA. Had a floor level gig, an Intel plan for the fall. But first, he wanted to put a few miles on his soul. Before he parked it behind a desk. See the world, maybe be of service. Charlie didn't want to go to Vegas 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. Guess where? Sokovia. He wanted to make a difference, I suppose. I mean, we won't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kicking ass." Tony said in anger.
"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, we're boundless, we're no better than the bad guys." He finished.
I closed my eyes I tried to keep it in, I tried.
"You seem to be forgetting a major component," I spoke.
Welp me staying quiet didn't work.
"Dot..." Rhodey warned me.
"Don't even say it," Tony said in a low tone.
"So we're just not supposed to tell the truth now?" Mocking him "We're just going to ignore the fact that you. You. Were responsible for everything that led to Sokovia. Mr. I Want to Change the World. They wouldn't have even been there if you hadn't fucked up. The only one that needs to be put in check is you!"
Tony's eyes flashed in fury.
He walked towards me but Clint was up in a flash.
"Do anything and I will break your neck." He hissed at Tony.
The air in the room shifted once again. Putting my hand on Clint's I tugged him back to the couch.
"Tony, someone dies on your watch, you don't give up." Steve spoke trying to shift the focus.
"Who said we're giving up?" Tony questioned the super-soldier.
"We are, for not taking responsibility for our actions. This document just shifts the blame." Steve replied.
I'm sorry Steve, that...that is dangerously arrogant. This is the United Nations we're talking about." Rhodey spoke but Steve and I shook our heads.
"It's not the World Security Council, it's not Shield, it's not Hydra." Rhodey finished.
"No, but it's run by people with agendas, and agendas change!" Steve said trying to get them to understand his point.
"That's good. That's why I'm here. When I realized what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands, I shut it down and stop manufacturing them." Tony made his way over to Steve and stood over him.
"Tony you chose to do that! If we sign this, we surrender our right to choose. What if this Panel sends us somewhere, we don't think we should go? What if it's somewhere we need to go, and they don't let us. We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own." Steve replied getting frustrated.
"He's right." Breaking in again "Especially with Ross calling the shots on this. He won't send you guys where you need to be he'll send you where he wants you to go."
"I know I'm not as sophisticated or educated as you," Looking at Tony "But I wouldn't put my fate in the hands of someone like Thaddeus Ross. No matter how many Congressional Medals he has." Cutting my gaze to Rhodey with that dig.
"Ross should have been thrown from the public eye years ago. It is a freaking wonder how he didn't lose all credibility with what happened with Dr. Banner. And no offense but it's a little hypocritical for that man to be lecturing you guys on proper protocol when he tried to create an army of super-soldiers." Shaking my head at the absurdity of it all.
"Do you know how naive you sound right now Rhodey? Just because this is coming from the UN doesn't mean it's any less innocent. To me, it seems you know so little about how the UN has fucked up when it comes to matters of human policy. Do you know how many genocides have occurred since 1948 to the present day? And do you know how many the UN has actually recognized? Three. Only three. And do you want to know how many the UN provided aid and help with? None. The UN is no better than the World Security Council, Shield, or Hydra." Seething at him. I couldn't help it. The anger in me was growing rapidly.
"Steve is right this is being back by people and people always have agendas. They will make you do whatever they want or whatever they think is best for them without thinking of anyone else but themselves. That's how politics work." Staring straight at Rhodey before swiveling to Tony.
"You think people with changing agendas are great? You're wrong. Dead wrong. When agendas change, people die. And no offense Tony but you still to this day would have been ignorant about what was going on with your own company if you had not been captured. You didn't come to some epiphany and decide to be a better man. You had to spend three months in a cave in the Middle East to learn how to do the right thing. It's just like Steve said you choose to stop making the weapons you had no idea you were making. If you sign these Accords, then you are giving away your right to say no or to say yes." I was eerily calm as I finished my little speech even as the air shifted around all of us.
Tony's jaw was still clenched. Now even tighter than before.
"And not to be the overdramatic history scholar in the room but what do you think is going to happen when government agencies have access to every enhanced human being that sign these Accords. Did any of you think about that? About what would happen when these people are put under the radar for being different with no choice! In my experience, that's how genocides start!" Yelling at Tony and Rhodey, "They did the same thing during the Holocaust and Rwanda. You sign these and you're just making it easier for someone like Ross to get people hunted, tracked, and traced. And if they don't do what he wants-then killed! You're just making it so much easier for him."
"Dot that's being a little melodramatic." Rhodey tried to calm me but it backfired.
"Spoken like a true denialist!" Hissing at him "History always repeats itself and we never learn even though we promise it will be different."
"If we don't do this now, it's going to be done to us later. That's a fact. That won't be pretty." Tony interjected looking at Wanda.
"You're saying they'll come for me," Wanda said in a hard tone.
"The hell they will!" Crossing my arms and going to stand behind her like a protective mother.
"We would protect you." Vision said without looking at her. She glanced at him but he didn't meet her eye.
"Maybe Tony's right," Wanda spoke up.
All of us, including Tony, turned to look at her like we had heard her incorrectly.
"Nat you can't be serious!" Clint argued with his best friend.
"If we have one hand on the wheel we can still steer!" She shot back at him.
"Aren't you the same woman who told the government to kiss her ass a few years ago?" Sam questioned like she really had lost her mind.
"I'm just…I'm reading the terrain." She told him, "We have made some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back."
"Focus up. I'm sorry did I just mishear you or did you agree with me?" Tony asked with a small smirk.
"Oh, I want to take it back now." She said to him.
"No, no, no you can't retract it." Tony smugly said, "Thank you unprecedented. Okay, case closed I win."
Tony was unsurprisingly still speaking but my attention wasn't on him. Steve had pulled out his phone and was staring at the screen with a grim face.
Oh no.
Please not her.
Not now.
"I have to go." Steve pocketed his phone and got up and left the room.
Tony gave him an incredulous look.
Stepping away from Wanda, I gave her arm a quick squeeze before I ran after him.
"Steve!" Calling out to him as I caught up to him in the stairwell.
He turned back to look at me. Unshed tears were in his eyes.
"She's gone isn't she." Whispering to him as I slowly inched my way closer to him.
Steve nodded.
Reaching out I wrapped my arms around him.
"I'm so sorry Steve." Muffling into his sweater, "How did it happen?"
"In her sleep. I just got the text. I'm leaving for London now." He spoke into my shoulder.
"I'm coming with you." Telling him as I pulled back.
He started to protest but I cut him off "You shouldn't be alone. Peggy meant a lot to you. She was your only tie to your old life besides James. I wish I had a friend with me when I lost my mom. But Beth was with me when I lost my grandmother and I want to be there for you." Giving him a soft smile, "I can be ready to go in ten minutes."
Steve pulled me back into a quick hug.
"Can you get Sam too?" He asked me.
"Of course." Hugging him tightly before I let him go.
"We'll meet you in the hanger in ten." Telling him. Steve nodded and went back down the stairs while I went back up into the common room.
People were still going back and forth. I pulled Sam aside and told him what was going on. He nodded his head and told me he'd be ready to go in ten, then took off to pack.
Walking over to Clint, I wrapped him in a hug, "It's Peggy." Whispering to him as I pulled away, "He needs-"
"I know." Clint said cutting me off, "Go with him." He gave me a quick kiss.
"I'll see you in Vienna in three days okay." Attempting to give him a small smile.
He nodded and kissed my head. Clint had no need to worry. He knew I'd be safe with Steve and Sam.
Picking up my bag I was leaving the room when Tony spoke up.
"First Wilson and now you. What is Steve going to monopolize everyone?" Tony asked in annoyance.
Sucking in a breath to calm my anger I walked over to him and slapped him upside the head.
Everyone went quiet.
"He just lost Peggy you asshole." Seething out to him "You would have known that if you bothered to ask him if he was okay. Sam and I are going to London to support him because we're his friends and he needs us."
Looking back at everyone else I said, "We'll see you in Vienna in three days." Before I walked out of the room.
