Disclaimer:

We do not own Young Justice and Avengers nor its characters.

Without further ado…

Lethe

Chapter 6.1

Avengers Universe

June 19 2016, 14:50 pm

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT

"The event will begin in five minutes. Please turn off or turn your phones into silent mode..."

Marina watched through the peek of the curtains. A slight uncomfortable feeling settled in her stomach. The amount of people made her queasy.

"You know, I'm fine right?" Tony started as a hair stylist fixed his hair. Marina glanced to see him over her shoulder. Dressed in a crisp black button down and slacks, Tony looked every bit of the eccentric billionaire seen in news reels rather than the homeless-looking person she sees at home. However, she noted the dark circles that peeked under his eyes. She turned on her heel with a frown.

After looking in the mirror one last time, Tony waved off the hair stylist and gave a brief nod of thanks. He adjusted the cuffs of black long sleeves. The lazy smirk shot Marina's way made her roll her eyes. "I'm a big boy. I can handle myself."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Marina grinned at him. "I just want to be here."

As Tony opened his mouth to protest, she quickly replied, "As September Foundation's replacement liaison and representative, at least I'll be productive today. And if you don't buy that, then you can call this babysitting. "

He sighed. "You wound me." Tony raised his arms in defeat.

He shrugged on his blazer, inserting his arm through one hole. He struggled to get his other arm into the other sleeve. His hand flailed in search of the blazer's left side.

Marina stepped in and helped him. She lifted the expensive material, allowing Tony's arm to slide in easily. After checking the mic on Tony's lapel, Marina chuckled as he ruffled her hair in thanks. She pouted at the messy affection. She tucked the loose locks back into her braided ponytail with no success.

"What do you think?" Tony asked. He spun around. Marina crossed her arms in thought. He checked himself out in a nearby mirror. Tony winked at himself.

"Are you going for the billionaire adult child? Then, I think you succeeded." Tony rolled his eyes at her.

"And are you a child playing an adult?"

Marina shrugged, glancing down to her pantsuit and white sneakers. "Touché." A grin broke on Tony's face. The speakers broke overhead. The lights dimmed.

A MIT staff member with a bulky headset came up to them. "Mr. Stark, you're on in thirty." Tony placed the BARF glasses on the bridge of his nose. Keys of a piano played softly.

"Try to remember the kind of September," a woman's voice sang lovely. Marina watched the behind the scenes monitor with a knot in her throat. "Wake up, dear, and say goodbye to your father."

"Who's the homeless person on the couch?" Marina smiled at the similarity of Tony and his father. Their appearance closely resembled one another, like a mirror staring at their past and future selves. Marina committed Tony's young face into memory.

"This is why I love coming home before Christmas, right before you leave." Marina's heart turned in her chest. This moment was the start of the traumatic event to follow. The loss of Tony's parents scarred his heart, scorched his mind. From the two Christmases she had with him, Tony chose to stay at home instead of jet setting to a different location for the holiday.

She disappeared from his home once before on Christmas, to get his present. He blew up her phone, asking where she was. The surprise gift was not met with happiness, at first. Tony's fearful eyes made her silent. She immediately hugged him before they returned to their celebrations.

"Frankly, you're going to miss us because this is the last time we're all going to be together. You know what's about to happen," Maria Stark stated as she walked beside the young Tony. The frown that stretched across his face melted. "Say something. If you don't, you'll regret it."

A flicker of sadness filled Tony's eyes. He stared at his mother's face as Howard Stark returned to the room. "I love you, Dad," the young Tony said. "And I know you did the best you could."

Marina blinked back the rising tears. The moment haunted Tony until today because this wasn't true. Maria pressed a hand on Tony's chest, leaning in for a kiss on the cheek. The real Tony quietly stepped into the set. He looked down in his hands while his younger self looked off to his leaving parents.

"That's how I wished it happened," Tony spoke. "Binarily Augmented Retro-Framing, or B.A.R.F. – God, I gotta work on that acronym. An extremely costly method of hijacking the hippocampus... to clear traumatic memories." He blew the flame of the fake candle.

It was brilliant technology, she admitted. The scientist who worked on it did wonderfully but some Stark Industries employees said that it drove him insane from all the long hours of experimentation. Tony was adamant about creating it in Stark Industries. Originally, it was for her therapeutic purposes. A solution to her night terrors but she couldn't bring herself to use it. A shiver traveled up her spine at the thought of reliving her nightmares.

"It doesn't change the fact that they never made it to the airport or all the things I did to avoid processing my grief." The simulation faded in the blue light when Tony swiped off the BARF glasses. "Plus, 611 million dollars for my little therapeutic experiment. No one in their right mind would ever have funded it."

Marina winced from the figure. It caused a lot for Tony to get this kind of relief- almost too much. She had to fill the space that it had cost. She shook her thoughts away from Pepper.

"Help me out. What's the MIT mission statement?" Tony addressed the audience.

"To generate, disseminate, and preserve knowledge," Marina answered, speaking to herself. Tony's practices stuck the phrase into her mind. A chuckle rose from beside her. Marina jolted. A hand flew to her hidden gun. She sighed when a bald MIT faculty member sprung from the theater's curtain.

"Sorry," he gestured to himself. "Peter Pilton, MIT liaison and faculty member." Marina's shoulder slumped in relief. She nodded, sticking out her hand.

"Marina Marks-"

"Tony Stark's ward and some say protege?" The MIT liaison jerked his head in acknowledgement. He shook her hand fervently. "I know. Everyone here does." He took a step closer to her in excitement.

"Uh huh," she hummed. She slid her hand away from his. He stared at his hand as if he didn't notice the minute long shaking. Sheepishly smiling, Pilton straightened.

"Anyways, I heard that you and Tony have looked into MIT for their courses in engineering." Marina pursed her lips. The news traveled fast, much to her displeasure. The MIT faculty member did not notice. He rambled on, "Rest assured that MIT will nurture your skills, if Tony's not doing enough already."

He laughed to himself while Marina gave a tight smile. His grin dropped when he spoke the next words, "Though, there will be no children your age in the classes. Tony has already expressed his displeasure with this. But if you can convince him otherwise-"

"We're still looking at other possible schools," Marina declared. Before Pilton could argue, a laugh broke out from the audience. She sighed in relief when the MIT liaison focused his attention back on Tony.

"Also, rather you were. As of this moment, every student has been made an equal recipient of the inaugural September Foundation Grant." Mutters fell among the attending students. "As in, all of your projects have just been approved and funded." A deafening round of applause met Tony's words.

Pilton gasped in awe before whistling. He exaggeratedly applauded with the crowd. Marina clapped too but less animatedly. "No strings. No taxes. Just reframe the future. Starting now!"

Tony paused as the cheers went down. Marina furrowed her brows before peeking from behind the stage. She hissed when she saw the teleprompter. Now I would like to introduce the head of the foundation: Pepper Potts. She pinched the bridge of her nose when the MIT theater staff broke into chaos.

Pilton watched them busily move around. "What happened? Why did he stop?" Another crew member stepped beside Marina.

"I am so so sorry, Ms. Marks," she stuttered. Marina met her with cold eyes. She sent a message way before the speech to remove that introduction.

"What's done is done," Marina sighed. She squeezed her eyes shut before opening them to watch Tony compose himself.

"Go break some eggs." Tony walked off. The audience gave a standing ovation. Pilton clapped again. Tony distractedly held out a hand, which Pilton clasped in his. Marina trailed after Tony without a word.

"That took my breath away," Pilton exclaimed. Tony handed the mic on his lapel to a nearby sound engineer. "Tony, so generous! So much money! Wow! Out of curiosity…"

Marina leaned closer to Tony, "Are you okay?" Tony didn't reply. "Tony-"

"Restroom's this way, yeah?" He expertly avoided her. A clack of heels moved closer. The crew member for the teleprompter appeared in front of them.

"Mr. Stark, I am so sorry about the teleprompter. I didn't know Ms Potts had canceled. They didn't have time to fix it." Marina bit back her frustration. Tony looked off.

"It's- uh- I- I'll be right back." Tony walked off. Marina sighed. Her shoulder slumped. She quietly groaned. She tried to get his mind off of Tony and Pepper's break.

"As I was saying," Pilton settled beside her. "This idea of a self-cooking hotdog can be revolutionary-" Marina felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She slid it to view. Happy.

"Sorry, I have to take this," she stepped around the MIT liaison, walking after Tony. Marina pressed the screen. Happy's worry lines appeared. "It's on video, Happy." The former bodyguard fumbled a little before moving his face further away. Marina saw his lips turned into a frown.

"How was the speech?" Happy's words made Marina slow her walk to a pause.

Marina massaged her temple, "Could've been better."

"Yikes. That does not sound good." Marina scoffed at the understatement. She continued walking. "Where is he now?"

"He escaped. Am in pursuit," Marina answered blandly. She walked down a corridor, hearing Tony's exclamation of "Hey." Marina hastened her steps. "Happy, I'll call you back later."

Before he could ask what's wrong, she hung up. Marina jogged down and turned a corner. Relief lifted the weight of her shoulders when she saw Tony was fine. She approached Tony and the woman slowly. A sense of familiarity washed over Marina when she saw the woman.

"I work for the state department. Human resources," the woman with him said. "I know it's boring but it enabled me to raise a son. I'm very proud of what he grew up to be." Marina reached the two as the unknown woman slammed a photo on Tony's chest. Marina paled when she saw the content of the picture through her fingers.

"His name was Charlie Spencer. You murdered him." Horror rose in Marina as Tony stood in shock. "In Sokovia. Not that it matters the least to you." Mrs. Spencer glanced at Marina. Hatred filled her gaze, making Marina grow numb.

"You think you fight for us? You just fight for yourself. " She turned back to Tony. Tony shook his head quietly. "Who's going to avenge my son, Stark? He's dead. And I blame you."

The words hung dangerously in the air. Tony stared at the photo in his hands. Marina knew all too well what else he saw in his hands- blood. A rage built in her chest. Marina watched the woman exit the double doors. She ran after her.

"Tony didn't kill your son!" Marina announced when she caught up to Mrs. Spence. She stepped in front of Mrs. Spencer. "So don't insist that he is a monster to be blamed."

The older woman glared at her. "But aren't you as well?" Marina tensed. "There are rumors that Stark's adopted daughter is one too. Whispers of the blood on your own hands. Don't play an angel now." Spencer chuckled darkly.

"We never claimed we were," Marina argued. She lifted her chin. "I am sorry for your loss. I know what it's like to lose loved ones-"

Spencer scoffed, "If you're going to console me out of your arrogance and pity, you have to much better than that-"

"And so do you." Marina steeled herself. She also had those sleepless nights after the battle. "From all that happened to me, I wish that I have the right words. But, I don't. I spent my life blaming others, shifting the blame. It doesn't help. It eats away at you until you're simply a husk of the person they loved."

Marina suddenly felt tired- raw. " I'm learning how to deal with my own monsters. Can you?"

With that, Marina walked away.

oOo

It wasn't long when Marina found Tony again. It didn't take her much thought of finding him. She just knew that he would be in the least amount of people in the building. So she concluded the outside back of the building. Marina quickened her pace through the service areas. She made it down the stairs and saw him. His back was uncomfortably straight.

Rigid with regret and guilt, Marina thought. She took a deep breath, readying herself for his coldness. She exhaled and approached him. Marina settled beside him, side glancing at him. The different MIT faculty and staff lingered in the lobby, packing up with Stark Industries. They were nearly finished.

His face was blank yet his features seemed to have hardened. Dark shadows elongated across his face in the natural light. She inwardly frowned as she willed her face to remain void of emotions.

"She's not right, y'know." Marina broke the silence. "You're not and never will be a monster." She waved off the remaining employees to head out first.

"It doesn't matter whether she's right or not. I created one," Tony said, not even facing her. "What we did… What we did was reckless. We all knew that." He mentioned the Avengers. "But people like Charles Spencer didn't have a choice on what we did. No one else did."

"I'm glad you see it that way, Tony." A voice spoke from behind them. Marina recognized that voice instantly. Her face soured.

Thaddeus Ross. The Secretary of State. And a massive asshole.

"Oh I'm sorry," Tony said, looking distasteful at Ross. "I didn't know that private conversations can be eavesdropped like that. Then again, isn't that a government secret? Sticking their noses in others' privacy before making it public." He hinted at the trial for his Ironman suit.

Ross ignored him, waving a hand to his assistant. He quietly passed Tony a tablet. Tony frowned, "I don't like being handed things."

"You might want to look at this," Ross insisted. Tony stubbornly refused the tablet. He glared at the lobby's ceiling, engrossed with its infrastructure. Marina sighed, accepting the tablet. She gasped when she saw the headline.

It snapped Tony from his bull-headedness. He glanced at the device. They both froze, seeing a news page.

The Secretary of State cleared his throat, "Just now, a building exploded because of a terrorist attack in Lagos, Nigeria. This was a result of a particular party intercepting a Hydra Agent, Brock Rumlow. She tossed the bomb into the air and it exploded by a building–"

"She?" Tony asked as they read the news article. Marina whipped out her phone, calling the leader in charge of the party against Rumlow. The call declined. A short message replied.

"En route to the Avengers Compound." A quick text followed immediately, "We're all okay. Rumlow had a suicide vest that could've killed people on the ground. Wanda did the best she could to contain the blow. She is in shock." Marina's breath hitched. Both situations were not easy. She scanned the article in Tony's hands quickly, devouring more information that she could get.

"Wanda Maximoff killed multiple people in the confrontation." Ross announced. An icy hand seized Marina by the throat, cold with guilt. She pushed it away as she glared at him.

"If she did nothing, then people in the market could have died," she argued. Ross raised a brow.

"And if the Avengers did not carry out this mission in the first place, then these deaths could've been avoided."

Marina bristled, "Rumlow attacked the Institute for Infectious Diseases. It said so in the papers. He stole a biochemical weapon that could've kill millions–"

"We need a compromise. The UN has a proposition that can be a middle ground for all of us," Ross rudely interjected. He turned to face Tony, who remained stoic. Marina took a step forward, ready to go face to face with the government official. A hand held her in place. Her attention snapped to Tony's hand on her wrist.

"What do you want me to do?" Tony asked wearily.

"An invitation to your headquarters is a start."

Marina sulked during their ride to Upstate New York. Tony played with his phone the entire time, not paying his ward any attention. A frustration ate at her nerves until she couldn't hold it anymore. While waiting in the conference room for Ross to set up and the rest to attend, she snapped.

"You do know that whatever the Avengers do, Ross will vilify us. He will continue to do so until we're in his pocket. And once we serve no more use for him, he'll cast us as his scapegoat."

Tony stayed silent. Marina ranted, "Ross plays by his own rules, regardless of the bull he spews. He has–"

"He has a point," Tony finally said. He sank further into his seat, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. "We need a compromise."

"And you think that this is it?" Marina nearly shrieked. "Coming from the man who sinks his fingers into every little thing to get what he wants?"

"Mari–" Tony hissed. Marina tensed. He sighed. Exhaustion clouded his eyes. "Let's just hear him out."

Marina crossed her arms. She looked away, still seething. Tony patted her shoulder. "For me," he said softly. Marina huffed. She stood from her seat beside him and dropped to one by the table.

"Five years ago, I had a heart attack and dropped right at the middle of my back swing," Ross reenacted his play. "Turned out that it was the best round of my life because after thirteen hours of surgery and a triple bypass, I found something– that forty years in the army never taught me. Perspective."

Marina stifled an eye roll. The frills and flowers of a politician's speech dressed any circumstances to their liking. Ross continued, "The world owes the Avengers an unpayable debt. You have fought for us, protected us, risked your lives… But, while a great many people see you as heroes, there are some who would prefer the word "vigilantes.""

Nat leaned back on her seat, "What word would you use, Mr. Secretary?"

"How about "dangerous"?" He stared at the former assassin before glancing around the room. "What would you call a group of US-based, enhanced individuals who routinely ignore sovereign borders and inflict their will wherever they choose." His eyes landed on Marina, Vision, and Wanda. The young girl gripped her hands tightly.

"And who, frankly, seem unconcerned about what they leave behind?" A pang of guilt rose in Marina again. She bit her lip. Ross stepped aside as the screen displayed different maps.

"New York." People ran through the streets. Screams echoed through the video. Chaos jumped from the screen. The Hulk leapt from building to building, causing rumble to fall onto the one taking the video.

"Washington, DC." The fire of the helicarriers seared red and black into Marina's mind. She forced herself to watch the smoke and fear permeating the air.

"Sokovia." Citizens scrambled for safety. A feeling she related to all too well. The city rose up ominous in the air. Buildings crashed and fell. Marina squeezed her eyes shut. A wave of emotion flooded through her. An invisible noose wrapped itself around her neck.

"Lagos." She faintly heard Ross say. The sounds of sirens wailing and people screaming tightened the rope. She struggled to breathe. Sam laid a hand on her shoulder. The former veteran support leader whispered to her.

"Breathe."

Marina took a shuddering breath. She focused on her breathing. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 8, 7…

"Okay. That's enough." Steve declared. The videos stopped. Marina felt relaxed enough to open her eyes again. The bright lights gave her a headache.

"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." Ross turned to his assistant, who handed him a thick book. "But I think we have a solution. The Sokovia Accords."

The secretary of state slid the blue bound book to Wanda. Wanda passed the book to Rhodey. Ross continued.

"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."

"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place," Steve drawled. Ross stopped by Captain America's chair. "I feel we've done that."

Ross stared down at Steve, "Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Steve glanced at Ross.

"If I misplaced a couple of thirty megaton nukes, you can bet there'd be consequences." Ross finished circling the table. Marina propped her elbows on the table. "Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."

Marina spoke up, "Any protocols about me?" She clasped her hands together, shooting the Secretary of State a wry grin. Ross turned his attention to her. Finally, acknowledging her since interrupting her sentence hours ago.

"In subsection 12-M, you will find that until the age of eighteen, Marina will be free from government supervision. But on the day that age has been reached, minors associated or with the intent of becoming an Avenger will automatically sign their powers and skills to the said UN panel."

"And, if I say no?"

Ross rocked back on his heels as if not interested in her. "Then, you will be deported and barred entry from all 117 countries that have agreed to the Accords. No one likes a power that they cannot control–"

"Speaking from experience?" Marina quipped, leaning back on her chair. Ross crossed his arms.

"- However, if you choose not to be an Avenger, no one will hold it against you. You can continue to live a normal life." A silent dread filled her. More than anything, she wants to be an Avenger– to help others in any way she can.

"So, there are contingencies," Rhodes clarified

Ross took out his phone, ready for the discussion to be over and done with. "Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords. Talk it over." Ross made his way to the exit. Marina mulled it over. When she finally becomes an Avenger, she'll be controlled. She shivered at the thought. Never. Never again.

"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" Natasha spoke Marina's thoughts.

"Then you retire." Ross replied simply before walking out. Marina sank into her seat. Her headache worsened.

Marina melted into the lounge's couch, massaging her temples. She futilely tried to ignore the noise as Rhodes and Sam argued back and forth. Steve quietly read through the Accords.

"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor, which is one more than you have."

"So, let's say we agree to this thing. How long is it gonna be before they LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals?"

"117 countries 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 sides?"

"I have an equation," Vision interjected. Relieved, Marina gazed at Vision.

"Oh, this will clear it up," Sam mumbled sarcastically.

"In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man," Vision pressed his fingertips together. "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."

"Are you saying it's our fault?" Steve asked. Marina raised a brow at her "baby brother."

"I'm saying there may be a causality. Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict breeds catastrophe." He held eyes with every person in the room. "Oversight… Oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand."

"Boom," Rhodes announced. Marina shook her head.

"I think you may be the teenager here, Uncle Rhodes." Marina rolled her eyes, landing on her guardian. His hand over his face.

"Tony," Natasha started. "You are being uncharacteristically non-hyperverbal." Marina snorted.

"It's because he's already made up his mind." Steve laid a hand over the Accords. Marina shifted to sit up.

"Boy, you know me so well," Tony replied. He moved to the common kitchen. "Actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache. That's what's going on, Cap. It's just pain. It's discomfort."

The billionaire took a dried mug. He peeked into the sink. "Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal? Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?" Marina pursed her lips guiltily as Tony took a pot of water.

He took out his phone and laid it in the fruit basket. He tapped it once. A picture displayed from the hologram. Marina's throat dried. Tony sighed before pointing at the photo. "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."

The billionaire poured himself some water. "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 or Fort Lauderdale which is what I would do."

It dawned on Marina. This was what he was doing during the car ride coming to the Compound. Learning more about that woman's child. Digging himself a deeper grave to die from guilt.

"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." Tony snapped open a pill. He dropped it into his coffee. "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."

Marina watched in horror as he drank from his mug. She knew Tony for two years. He appeared at her bedside when she had nightmares. He didn't sleep to escape his own. A reality for both when they quietly worked together in shared restlessness.

"There's no decision-making process here." He rounded the counter, crossing his arms. "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, we're no better than the bad guys."

The words struck a chord with her, Marina admitted it. She gnawed her lip in contemplation.

"Tony, someone dies on your watch, you don't give up."

"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." Rhodes sputtered. "That's dangerously arrogant. This is the United Nations we're talking about. It's not the World Security Council. It's not S.H.I.E.L.D. It's not Hydra."

Nat's hand ran through Marina's hair comfortingly. Marina watched the Avengers debate. She didn't want to be like the bad guys. She swallowed stiffly but her fear of being controlled gripped her.

"No, but it's run by people with agendas, and agendas change."

"That's good. That's why I'm here." Tony stepped forward. "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. If we sign this, we surrender our right to choose. What if this panel sends us somewhere we don't think we should go?" Steve looked at Tony. "What if there is somewhere we need to go and they won't let us? We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own."

"If we don't do this now, it's gonna be done to us later. That's the fact. That won't be pretty," Tony argued.

"You're saying they'll come for me," Wanda stated. The resignation in her tone cut through Marina. Marina fidgeted with her fingers anxiously. Tony rubbed her back reassuringly.

"We would protect you," Vision immediately replied. The two shared a look. Marina glanced down to her palms, tracing her scars into her memory. She felt Natasha's cool gaze on her but couldn't bring herself to meet Nat's eyes.

"Maybe, Tony's right," Natasha said, garnering the attention of the room. Marina looked at the Black Widow with wide eyes at what she just said. "If we have one hand on the wheel, we can still steer. If we take it off–"

"Aren't you the same woman who told the government to kiss her ass a few years ago?" Sam asked, incredulously.

"I'm just reading the terrain," Natasha explained. "We have made some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back."

"Focus up," Tony leaned against the couch where Marina sat on. "I'm sorry. Did I just misear you or did you agree with me?"

A mortified look settled on the assassin's face. "I want to take it back now."

Tony wagged his finger, "No, no, no. You can't retract it. Thank you. Unprecedented. Marina, did you hear that?"

Marina smiled at his antics, "Nope, not a word." Tony sputtered.

"Nah, everyone heard that, right?" He pointed to his best friends. Rhodes shrugged, nodding. Tony clapped his hands.

"Okay. Case closed. I win." Tony ruffled Marina's hair in victory. She yelped, swatting his hands away.

"Not again."

Steve read from his phone quickly before dropping the Accords on the coffee table. "I have to go."

He vanished from the lounge, disappearing behind the double doors and into the stairs. They watched him go. Tony groaned before noting that they did not conclude their decision. Marina's phone vibrated. A message from Friday lit the screen– Ma'am, I have an alert about one Peggy Carter.

Marina felt the air escape her lungs. Her heart shattered at her feet for Steve. She leaned closer to Natasha, flashing the screen to the assassin. They shared a sympathized grief between them.

Marina stood up, pulling Sam aside. Tony's eyes followed her but she shot him a gentle smile. They exited the lounge into the stairwell. Marina leaned against the metal railings with a sigh.

"What is it?" Sam asked. He crossed his toned arms across his chest. Marina shrugged.

"I just wanted to tell you– thanks for the conference room." Sam's features softened. He pulled her into a hug. She pressed her cheek against him. "I-It was like everything was closing in."

He patted her back, "It's okay. That feeling can come back the same but what changes is how you deal with it. Until it's gone."

She pulled back. While the question of when will it be gone burned at the back of her throat, she composed herself. He kept a hand on her shoulder, looking down at her directly in the eyes. "You know, I'm here."

She nodded. She looked off. Her hands unconsciously massaged the scars on her palms. Sam settled beside her, leaning on the same railing she was.

"There's more, isn't there?"

She exhaled through her nose. She slipped her phone from her pocket before showing it to the Falcon. "This came the moment Steve left."

Sam scanned through FRIDAY's message. A dark look clouded his features. "How did you know?"

Marina looked off again. "I keep tabs on her, just in case."

"In case of what? At the age of 98, she masterminds an entire scheme?"

"In case… He needs to see her one last time," she hesitated. "Our line of work isn't exactly happy endings and rainbows. But, if Steve is gone– again, he needs to see who he's leaving behind one last time. He deserves that much."

Sam nodded in understanding. "But you do know that I cannot do anything unless he asks me to."

Marina squared her shoulders. "I know. It's just– After today, I just want to make sure that no one is alone."

"Well, he's not. When he calls and asks me to be there, I will book a ticket to London." Sam descended the stairs. At the landing before he disappeared from sight, he looked up at Marina. "And you're not neither— You're not alone."

—

"At a special United Nations conference, 117 countries have come together to ratify the Sokovia Accords…"

"And, why are you not in Vienna?" Marina asked without looking up from her papers. Tony sidled beside her. She sighed, glancing at Tony. She returned the words he once said, "I'm a big girl. I can handle myself."

He shot Marina a grin, "I just want to be here." Marina quirked an eyebrow. She read through the documents thoroughly. She spotted the inconsistency that was pointed out. She sighed, running her hand down her hair in frustration. She quickly underlined it.

Tony hovered over her shoulder, humming. Marina ignored it, continuing down the page. She gnawed on her lip anxiously. "You don't need to babysit me."

Marina swiveled her chair to face him. She crossed her arms. Tony raised his hands, "I'm not."

She raised a brow at him. A silence hung between them. Marina didn't believe him for a second. "Fine, I thought that you needed company for this. Maybe, need advice or two?"

Marina's shoulders loosened. "Thank you. But, I think I need to learn this myself." Tony's features twisted with uncertainty. She continued, "The Ark Foundation is my brain child. I think I need to figure everything out. The launch is in a month."

With the help of FRIDAY, Marina displayed the organization on hologram. The prototype site projected to her left. A logo that represented safe haven and refuge perfectly encapsulated the Ark Foundation's purpose– to create a foundation for victims of war. With Stark Industries energy and construction resources, the Ark Foundation can help ensure that those affected by any battles can start a better and brighter future. First with a house they can call their home.

The pressure weighed more on her as the founder and financial backing of the organization. Marina swallowed, "I have to make sure that the money I set aside as Lilith will be able to help others for a long time."

Tony softened. He grasped her hand. "You know, it will, kid."

"With all that's happening, my name can't get out," Marina cradled her head in her free hand. "It's best to focus on the purpose, not the child of the Avengers."

"And you've taken care of that."

"Yeah, Mr. Madrigal is the best person to run the Ark Foundation." Marina gnawed her lip more. The past guilt was already absolved by the same man but it lingered. "But, I need to help where I can."

Tony frowned. A silent thought passed between them. Are you ready for it? Marina bit back her irritation. She knew it was coming from Tony's worry for her.

She squeezed his hand, "I can do this. I have to do this. Then… after that, Mr. Madrigal will handle it."

Tony gave a small sigh of relief. Marina smiled at him reassuringly but a nagging thought echoed in her mind. When will he trust me enough to handle myself?

"Breaking news. The United Nations Complex Bombed…" The news reel spoke in the background. Marina snapped her gaze to the small holographic window at the top right corner. Tony and her shared a panicked look. He stood up and motioned the news window to the center. He asked FRIDAY to enlarge it.

"A bomb hidden in a news van ripped through the UN building in Vienna." Footage flashed on the screen as people scrambled to put out the fire and attend to the injured. "More than 70 people have been injured. At least 12 are dead– including the Wakanda's king T'Chaka."

"Oh my god," Marina whispered, seeing the smoke that curled into the air. BREAKING NEWS: UN building bombed during the Sokovia Accords Summit ran through the bottom of the screen. A different film flashed.

"Officials have released a video of a suspect who they have identified as James Buchanan Barnes, the Winter Soldier." The surprise knocked the wind out of Marina's lungs. Tony groaned a curse. Where Bucky was, Steve will soon follow.

"The infamous HYDRA agent linked to numerous acts of terrorism and political assassinations." Marina massaged her hands unconsciously.

"Shit," Tony swore. He tried to reach Natasha. It failed. Marina rose from her seat.

"We need to get there–"

"No," Tony answered. Marina's eyes blew wide.

She sputtered in disbelief. "W-Why not?!"

"I'm not allowing you anywhere close to Barnes if HYDRA is involved." Marina reeled back as if she was struck.

"But, you know that Steve will!" Marina argued. Tony left the room. She followed as he made his way to his closet.

"I'll handle that. You stay here."

Marina stepped in front of him. "You can't just leave me here!"

"Oh, yes, I can." Tony shot her an indignant look. "You forget who is the adult here."

"I'm going!" Marina stormed past him. Tony grabbed her wrist.

"Like hell, you are."

"Why? Are you scared that I might cause more harm than good by being with you?"

"No–"

"Or that I'm not ready? You don't trust me enough to help–"

"Because I don't want you- or anyone– to get hurt!" Tony yelled. Marina stopped in her tracks. He let out a shuddering exhale. "Not again. Not anymore."

Marina saw the two sides of the Accords because she was once on both. Tony didn't want her to go out of fear. The feeling of someone looking out for her was new and familiar all at the same time. The warmth of being taken care of filled her, despite her own principle being stifled. After all the blood and scars she had on herself, she never thought that she could ever feel that again. And Tony gave her more love and affection than she could dream of.

Instead of fear, what can she do out of respect and loyalty? The flames inside her ebbed away. She resigned, "Fine. I'll stay. But, if I hear that you need to go full Ironman, I'm taking the Stark plane to you."

"Deal." They shook on it. Marina sagged against a wall. Tony continued down the corridor.

"Um, your room is this way," Marina pointed to the opposite end of the hall.

"I remembered to get something," Tony explained vaguely. "I'm going to the archives. Do me a favor and call Rhodes, will ya?"

"What for?"

"Clean-up."

Marina rolled her eyes, "The guy doesn't get paid enough for your messes."

Tony barked out a laugh, "For once, it's not mine."

Author's Note:

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