"Princezná?"
Spencer moved her gaze from Arwen, who was grazing the grass alongside Tony's recently acquired rescued Red Roan Appaloosa gelding. Tony thought keeping the Lord Of the Rings theme was funny, so he named his gelding Pippin. Despite Arwen being a moody mare, Spencer's mare seemed fond of the younger gelding and got along decently enough with Pippin. Tony had rescued Pippin a few months back and had formed a strong bond with his horse.
Tony definitely had a soft spot for animals, who wouldn't though?
Spencer blinked owlishly at her boyfriend, who had been standing behind her, "Hey, babe," Spencer gave a tired smile and Pietro frowned, the last few months had not been kind to Spencer, "You guys leaving soon?" Spencer murmured quietly as Cooper shifted beside her, the lazy hound was snoring his life away.
Pietro looked handsome in his new suit, Spencer observed to herself with a soft smile. The dark bags under her eyes were getting more and more prominent, and Spencer was losing a lot of weight, much to her friends' and boyfriends' horror. Whatever was happening to Spencer was accelerating quickly and no one knew why, no amount of studies by Tony or Helen Cho could pinpoint what was going on with Spencer, why her abilities were basically gone.
Spencer tried her best to be positive, but during a mission, her powers were basically gone and her body couldn't keep up with any strenuous activity, it was decided shortly after that Spencer should retire, and that was when Spencer spiraled into a depression that no one could stop.
Her body was deteriorating, and no one knew how to stop it.
Pietro's eyes were filled with concern, "Perhaps you should head back inside, princezná."
Spencer's eyes quickly left Pietro's concerned face, her eyes beginning to water, "I like it out here." Spencer's voice was wobbly.
Pietro settled beside her and brought her small body into his chest, "Please." He begged quietly, "You've been out here for days, Spencer." It was true, Spencer seemed to never venture into the facility and opted to sleep in the barn. No one said anything out loud, but Spencer's depressive behavior was only getting worse and her body was close behind.
"It helps my anxiety," Spencer murmured, inhaling Pietro's scent, he always smelt nice, since Pietro was always off doing missions, Spencer was often left alone in their shared apartment. Spencer moved out of her joint apartment with Sam and Steve to live in a shared apartment with Pietro a few months back. It helped to be with Pietro, but since he was rarely home, it only made Spencer's depression worse, but she never voiced this out loud, she didn't want to be needy or a burden on him.
Pietro exhaled softly, "Everyone's worried about you," Pietro murmured as he ran his fingers through her hair, "It would help ease their worries if you came back to the facility until we return." Pietro explained to her.
Spencer pulled away from Pietro and stared into his beautiful eyes, "Okay," She relented without much of a fight and it only worried Pietro more, the dread in his stomach growing. His girlfriend was dying due to some unknown virus, and all he could do was watch her fade away. Her fiery spirit was gone, had been for some time, Spencer was only a shell of her former self.
Pietro's eyes watered as he hugged her tightly, "I'm so sorry," Pietro whispered with anguish and Spencer felt her heart constrict as tears fell from her eyes. "I'm sorry, Spencer," Pietro repeated as he pulled the tiny woman into his lap and rocked her back and forth as Spencer sobbed into his chest and Pietro silently cried.
Cooper whined from his spot feeling the distress coming from his human and rubbed himself against her softly. "I'm sorry," Spencer whispered into Pietro's chest as she felt Pietro tighten his embrace around her, "I love you."
Pietro wept against her shoulder, "I love you, princezná."
Pietro and Spencer spent some time together before heading back to the facility, someone was already leading Arwen and Pippin back into their stables for the evening. Cooper was trotting dutifully beside Spencer as Pietro kept a firm arm around the waist, supporting her just in case her body failed her. It happened a few times before where Spencer's legs collapsed, and it scared the shit out of everyone.
It was soberly quiet between the couple as they made a short walk to the golf cart that Tony left for her in case she wanted to come back to the facility, Pietro settled her into the passenger side, Cooper jumped into the back, and Pietro got into the driver's side. Spencer longingly stared at the barn, watching as one of the stable-hands walked Arwen back to her sable.
Arwen turned to look at Spencer with a look of sadness before the mare reared onto her back legs, letting out a roar of a whinney, startling the stable-hand. Spencer smiled ever so softly as Pietro drove away from her solitude. Spencer wondered if perhaps it was time to follow Clint's footsteps and return to her childhood home, maybe it would help ease her ever-consuming depression and anxiety. She didn't want to be in the facility anymore, she didn't want to be looked at helplessly anymore, it only made her grief worse. "Do you want to do something when I come back?" Pietro tried to make conversation.
Spencer felt a stab of guilt hit her gut, "Sure, we can do that." Spencer smiled, "What did you have in mind?" Spencer asked, trying to keep her voice light.
Pietro glanced at her before saying, "How about I take you to your favorite ramen spot? How does that sound, princezná?"
Spencer perked, she hadn't felt this excited for ramen in a while, "Yeah, I'd love that." Spencer admitted with a more genuine smile and tone, it made Pietro's heart stutter and smile widely.
"Then it's a date!" Pietro chirped, relieved and happy to see some light in her eyes again.
"Some curry sounds nice, too," Spencer admitted as her stomach rumbled in hunger.
Pietro responded quickly, "Vision's been trying his hand at cooking," Pietro chuckled as Spencer snorted, "He's not that bad at it, maybe you could ask him to make you some."
"I think I will," Spencer mused softly, "Does he wear an apron, too?"
Pietro smirked, "I guess you'll find out."
It didn't take long to escort Spencer up to the main lobby that connected all the Avenger's apartments, the gang suited up and talked among themselves until they spotted Pietro and Spencer. "Spence," Steve greeted the former assassin with a warm smile, trying his best to mask his other emotions from her, "Glad you could join us."
Frodo ran up to her meowing at her loudly.
Spencer squatted down slowly to pet the needy cat, "Pietro's pretty convincing when he wants to be," Spencer winked suggestively at her boyfriend, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
Pietro rolled his eyes.
"TMI," Steve cringed.
Sam laughed, "In a barn, really?"
"Who said anything about a barn?" Spencer responded smoothly.
Steve's face was priceless and the heavy atmosphere lifted for the moment being, Nat coming over to hug her tightly. Wanda was watching Spencer with sharp eyes before smiling like a Cheshire cat when Spencer caught Wanda's eyes, "What?" Spencer narrowed her tired eyes at the brunette.
"Nothing!" Wanda chirped.
"You're up to something," Spencer muttered as she stood up and plopped into a chair, "How long will you guys be gone?" Spencer asked curiously, as her former team gathered around her.
"Not long," Steve responded, "At least I hope."
"Wish I could go," Spencer grumbled, "I'd love to give Rumlow a piece of my mind." Spencer's eyes flashed dangerously, a welcomed sight.
"I'm sure if we brought him in alive, you'd have some fun." Nat grinned, a vicious grin that matched Spencer's bloodlust for Rumlow.
"I'm scared," Sam said.
"Same." Steve agreed, making the group laugh.
Spencer smiled, her anxiety easing up some, but she knew it wouldn't last long, once the team was gone, she'd be left alone in her own dark thoughts, but she would try to savor this bit of freedom. It wasn't long before the team had to get going, Spencer watched quietly as they began to file out and head to the Quinnjet, Pietro and Steve lingered behind the others. Steve patted her head as Frodo was sleeping in Spencer's lap, "Promise me you'll eat while we're gone."
Spencer blinked up sheepishly at her best friend, "I'll try."
Steve frowned down at her before casting a look at Vision, "Vision?"
Vision gave a small smile and nodded, "I'll keep her well fed, Steve, do not worry." Vision said sincerely, looking a little excited to be putting his newly developed cooking skills to the test.
"I'm not a sick animal, ya know," Spencer gave a light scowl. As much as her pride was flaring, she didn't want to fight anyone, especially Steve. Her retirement and her deteriorating health had hit Steve and Pietro the hardest. It didn't escape Spencer's ears how aggressive Steve had become in finding out some sort of solution to help Spencer heal from whatever from consuming her body, that didn't mean that everyone else on her team wasn't doing the same, in fact, Spencer knew Tony had been consulting doctors from all over the world in order to find some sort of solution, but every attempt had failed.
Maybe it was time for Spencer to come to terms with her situation; she was going to die, she wasn't sure when, but perhaps it was time to start savoring the time she had left instead of being depressed.
Steve pinned her with a hard look, "You obviously aren't taking care of yourself," It seemed like Steve was done sugar-coating around Spencer, "If you won't take care of yourself, you better bet we will." Spencer didn't flinch at the harshness in his voice.
Pietro placed a hand on Steve's shoulder, "I know you're frustrated, but do not take it out on her." Pietro said calmly, though Spencer knew Pietro agreed. They let Spencer drown herself in a black hole of despair long enough, and if Spencer were to give up, the team wouldn't give up on her, no matter what. They wouldn't let her, no way in hell.
Steve's expression softened, but Spencer shook her head, "It's okay, baby," Spencer's voice was soft, "Steve's right, moping around won't help my body, it's time I start at least trying to keep my body healthy. If I keep sulking and crying, it'll only kill me faster."
Both men flinched, "Sorry," Spencer cringed awkwardly.
Steve patted Spencer's head fondly, "See you in a few days."
Spencer gave Steve a genuine smile, "Be careful and come back to me, all of you." She told them in a strong voice. Steve smiled back at her and went to follow the rest of the team, Pietro gave her a quick kiss, "Be safe." Spencer murmured to Pietro softly.
Pietro smirked at her, "I'll try."
Spencer rolled her eyes as Pietro sped off leaving her alone with Cooper, Frodo, and Vision. "Would you like to try some of my stew?" Vision piped up, looking excited. It seemed he was enjoying domestic life, at least one of them was enjoying it. Spencer supposed she had always been crying about a vacation, perhaps this was meant to be her vacation.
Spencer shook the thoughts out of her head and smiled at Vision, "Sounds like a date! How about we watch some Jersey Shore?" Spencer asked.
"Oh! Wanda showed me the first season, I'm appalled that such humans exist, and yet I cannot help but to keep watching!" Vision's eyes were wide, child-like almost, and it made Spencer laugh.
Vision's eyes softened, it had been too long since he heard the young woman laugh. Spencer strangely found herself at ease with Vision, a surprising but welcomed comfort. Frodo and Cooper followed the duo dutifully as Vision got Spencer up to speed with everything that had been happening in the last few weeks. The stew was ridiculously good, Spencer couldn't get enough of it, but with her eating habits as of recently, Spencer couldn't eat too much, she ate three bowls within a span of a few hours. It reassured Vision and he knew it would ease the worries of the rest of the team.
In the short few days together, Spencer was looking a little healthier, eating anything Vision put in front of her. Spencer still wasn't sleeping well at night, but at least she was getting spoiled by Vision with his food. After watching all of the Jersey Shore seasons, now, they were idly watching the news, Spencer showing Vision how to play Nintendogs on her DS.
"Have you heard of Spiderman?" Vision asked.
Spencer watched footage of this new hero on the tv, "No, I hadn't heard of him before," Spencer's curiosity peaked, "Wow, look at him go! I wonder if that web stuff is made from his body naturally?" Spencer asked Vision.
"Curious fellow," Vision hummed lightly as the news footage suddenly changed.
Spencer's eyes widened as Wanda's face flashed on the screen, "Oh, no, my poor baby," Spencer muttered in horror watching the footage as Wanda tried to save Steve from a bomb strapped to Rumlow's disfigured body by throwing it up in the air, but she couldn't control it for long, and it ended up exploding next to an office building, "Shit, the news is eating this eat." Spencer mumbled.
"She's not going to be in a good mood," Vision sighs softly.
Spencer nodded, her worry and anxiety for her friend.
It didn't take long for the team to return home, only about an hour or two after the news hit. Spencer waited for the team to gather, but Wanda shot straight to her room. Pietro right on her heels, he glanced briefly at Spencer. Spencer gave a nod and a smile and Pietro rushed after his twin.
"You look better, spiderling," Nat sauntered up to her, "Vision spoiling you?"
Spencer gave a small grin, "Very much."
Nat's eyes softened, "Good, you look good."
Spencer's grin faded, "Now, I just need to get some sleep."
"Maybe I can threaten Tony to make you something that'll help you sleep," Nat mused making Spencer snort, "Or I can just hit you in the head."
Spencer rolled her eyes, "Violent as ever."
"Spence," Steve and Sam walked up to both women, "Lookin' better," Sam nudged her shoulder.
"You all look like crap," Spencer mused softly, "At least Rumlow's dead."
"Yeah, but at the cost of civilian lives," Steve muttered.
"As much as I hate innocents dying, sometimes it can't be helped," Spencer spoke soundly, "How many did Rumlow and his team kill? How many more would have died if Rumlow and his team got away? It was an accident, I would rather lose a few civilians than Captain America."
Steve flinched.
Spencer knew she sounded harsh, but it was the truth.
Vision offered some food to the team, and Spencer took this chance to go after Wanda. Spencer entered her room, Pietro and Wanda looked to be in a heated argument. After months of building close relationships with the twins, Spencer knew their body language very well. Wanda dealt with her grief the same way Spencer did, so Spencer understood why it would upset Pietro that his twin wasn't venting to him.
Pietro and Wanda looked at Spencer with the fire dying in their eyes, the sight of their sick friend calming them down almost instantly. "Hey, Spence," Wanda muttered sitting down on her bed, trying her best to smile.
"Baby, why don't you cool off with some laps?" Spencer asked her boyfriend.
Pietro glanced at Wanda, the latter refusing to meet his concerned eyes, and sighed, "Okay, princezná, I'll be back later." His voice was full of frustration, but he knew Spencer would be able to communicate with his sister better. Pietro walked out of the room and Spencer plopped down next to Wanda on her bed.
"Wanna take a nap?" Spencer asked.
Wanda tried not to laugh; with how little Spencer slept now, it was hard to forget how much Spencer loved napping and sleeping before. "You don't like sleeping," Wanda countered as Spencer scooted to the headboard of the bed, sat up, and patted the empty side beside her, inviting Wanda to lay down next to her.
Wanda sighed but gave in when Spencer blinked her baby blue eyes at the older woman. Spencer put a pillow for Wanda to rest her head as Wanda basically snuggled next to Spencer, the retired assassin's fingers going to play with Wanda's soft hair, "I think you made the right call," Spencer told her without much care, "If you hadn't, Steve could have died."
Wanda remained silent, staring up at the ceiling.
"We made the right call with Ultron, but we still lost so many people," Spencer reminded quietly, "Sometimes, we make the right call, but it still ends up costing us lives, but it's better than the alternative," Spencer murmured.
"They think I'm a monster," Wanda whispered.
"We can't please everyone," Spencer says with some heat, "We'll always have people criticizing the team and the choices we make, they shouldn't, especially since they can hate us from the comfort of their homes and without the pressure of the world on their shoulders. No one else could shoulder these burdens but us, but they forget that we're still human, too," Spencer sighed, "And all humans make mistakes."
Wanda buried her face into Spencer's chest, tears streaming down her face. Spencer held onto her tightly, "Let them talk, but at the end of the day, this team has always put Humanity's best interest at heart."
For once, Spencer slept without any nightmares.
"Ah, no room for me?" Pietro's voice startled Spencer awake.
Spencer blinked groggily at her boyfriend, "Sorry, Wanda's bed is only big enough for two." Spencer replied as Wanda sat up with a yawn.
"Stark's here," Pietro informed calmly.
Wanda stared at her twin, "So?"
"He has the Secretary of State with him," Pietro clarified.
Spencer groaned, "Fucking great," She sighs and says, "Whenever the Government gets involved, it's bound to be bad." The trio exchanged worried looks with each other before they headed to the meeting room. Most of the team was already there, Tony sitting in the corner looking just as shitty as Spencer did a few days ago.
Secretary Ross was at the head of the room, "Nice of you three to join us," He says, Spencer, not knowing if he was being sarcastic or not. She tried not to let her annoyance show though.
"Hey, old man," Spencer patted Tony's shoulder.
Tony looked at her carefully, "You look better," He sounded relieved.
Spencer hummed lightly, "Vision's cooking is ridiculously good."
Tony pulled out a chair for her at the table, right at the head of the table, "Wait, what shouldn't Steve-?"
"Sit down, Pikachu," Tony pinned her with a stern glare.
Spencer rolled her eyes as Secretary Ross started talking, "Five years ago, I had a heart attack, and dropped right in the middle of my backswing," He made a golfing motion and Spencer tried to bite back a remark, "Turned out, it was the best round of my life because, after 13 hours or surgery and a triple bypass, I found something in the Army had never taught me."
Spencer resisted the urge to roll her eyes as he continued on, "Perspective. 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."
That got Spencer's eyes twitching.
"What word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" Nat asked, a daring look in her eyes.
Secretary Ross didn't miss a beat, "How about dangerous?" Spencer's nose flared with anger, "What would you call a group of US-based, enhanced individuals who routinely ignore sovereign borders and inflict their will wherever they choose and who, frankly, seem unconcerned about what they leave behind?"
Spencer's jaw clenched in fury. How dare he!
Secretary Ross steps to the side to show footage of New York, Washington D.C, Sokovia. Spencer's anger only grew, and it irked her that no one else was saying anything. Unconcerned? Spencer's mind raced with anger. Would he prefer the Avengers to have lost those battles? The damage that was done would be minuscule to the damage that would have befallen their planet if the Avengers had lost any of those fights!
"And now, Lagos," Ross states, aware of the flaming daggers that former Avenger Spencer is sending him.
"Okay, that's enough," Steve says firmly, glancing at Wanda and Spencer.
"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. But I think we have a solution," Secretary Ross is handed a thick book, he proceeds to slide it to Wanda, "The Sokovia Accords."
Wanda picks it up and stares at it blankly.
"Approved by 117 countries," Rhodey gestures for it and Wanda wordlessly passes it to him, "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."
"Does anyone remember during the Battle of New York," Spencer's icy words sent shivers running down everyone's spines, her eyes deadly and cold, "When the Council decided it would be a great idea to send a fucking nuke into Manhattan?" Spencer deadpanned.
Ross remains silent, "Remember that tidbit? With a large population of civilians still in the city? Remember that, Secretary Ross?" Spencer asks icily.
"Yes, I remember." Secretary Ross barely holds her gaze.
"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place," Steve brings the focus onto him, "I feel we've done that."
Secretary Ross completely ignores Spencer's words, "Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are?"
"Thor's busy bringing peace to the nine realms," Spencer says in a smart voice, "And he doesn't need to be supervised, either."
Ross clenches his jaw and again ignores Spencer, "If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes, you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."
Rhodey speaks quietly, "So, there are contingencies."
Ross nods, "Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords."
Spencer glares over at Tony, who had been quiet the entire time, Tony doesn't meet her eyes as Ross says, "Talk it over."
"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" Nat asks slowly.
Ross stares at Nat, "Then you retire."
Nat stifles a smile as Ross leaves the room.
"Fucking bastard," Spencer is on her feet and a snarl on her face, "After all the shit we've done, everything we've been through, he has some fucking nerve!" Spencer's voice is full of anger and offense. "My father died, god damn it!" Spencer turned to look at Tony, "And you agreed to this?" Spencer demanded, "You let him insult us like that?"
Tony gets up and plops himself on the loveseat, "Tone it down a bit, Pikachu," Tony tells her, "Before you exhaust your little body."
Spencer glares at Tony, "Answer me."
"What do you want me to say, Spencer?" Tony demands to her, "I say the wrong thing and you'll probably fucking kill me."
"So let's say we agree with this thing. How long is it gonna be before they LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals?" Sam asks.
"117 countries want to sign this," Rhodey rebuttals, "117, Sam, and you're just like, "No, that's cool. We got it"" Rhodey and Sam stare at each other.
Sam asks Rhodey, "How long are you going to play both sides?"
Rhodey gives him a warning look.
"I have an equation." Vision speaks up.
Sam scoffs, "Oh, this will clear it up."
"In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man, the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially. And during the same period, the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate." Everyone listens and stares at Vision.
"Are you saying it's our fault, Vis?" Spencer asks quietly.
"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 can be dismissed out of hand." Vision explains calmly.
Spencer narrows her eyes, trying her best to not let her anger get the best of her.
"Boom, exactly," Rhodey says.
"Tony," Nat calls to the annoyed Billionaire, "You are being uncharacteristically non-hyper-verbal."
"Because Spencer yelled at him," Sam says with a smirk.
"It's because he's already made up his mind," Steve adds with a defeated look on his face.
"Boy, you know me so well," Tony gets up and winces, rubbing the back of his head, "Actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache," Tony heads to the kitchen and grabs a mug, "That's what's going on, Cap. It's just pain. It's discomfort. Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal? Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?"
"Sam," Spencer sang very quietly, shooting a look at the Falcon.
Sam glared back at her with betrayal in his eyes.
Tony puts his phone in a basket and taps the phone projects an image of a smiling young man. He looks down, then back up, and pretends to notice the picture for the first time, "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. 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. 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." The anger and angst in his voice kill whatever fire left in Spencer.
She lets Pietro pull her down to one of the couches, everyone remains quiet.
Tony continues, "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 takes a pill with his coffee and turns his attention to the team, "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, if we're boundary-less, we're no better than the bad guys."
"You're wrong," Spencer says boldly.
"I'm not surprised that you don't agree with me," Tony chuckles bitterly, "Maybe you can live with the burden, but I can't."
Spencer narrows her gaze but says nothing.
"Tony, someone dies on your watch, you don't give up," Steve says with a frown.
Tony stares at Steve, "Who said we're giving up?"
"We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions. This document just shifts the blames." Steve says, keeping his voice respectful.
It's Rhodey who speaks up, "I'm sorry. Steve. That - that is dangerously arrogant. This is the United Nations we're talking about. It's not the World Security Council, it's not SHIELD, it's not HYDRA."
"No, but it's run by people with agendas, and agendas change." Steve clarifies.
"We'll be lapdogs for the United Nations," Spencer says coldly.
Tony walks around to stand in between Nat and Sam, "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 stopped manufacturing."
"Out of your own free-will, you choose to stop manufacturing," Spencer says with a frown.
Steve nods and adds, "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 there is somewhere we need to go, and they don't let us? We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own."
Tony groans, "If we don't do this now, it's gonna be done to us later. That's the fact. That won't be pretty!"
Wanda speaks up softly, "You're saying they'll come for us."
"Over my dead fucking body!" Spencer snarls, on her feet now.
"We would protect you both," Vis quietly reassures.
"Maybe Tony's right," Spencer turns in shock, to look at Nat, so does Tony, "If we have one hand on the wheel, we can still steer. If we take it off-"
Sam cuts her off, "Aren't you the same woman who told the government to kiss her ass a few years ago?"
Spencer and Nat lock eyes, Spencer feels betrayed, but Nat looks tired. "I'm just, I'm reading the terrain. We have made some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back." Nat concludes quietly.
"I'm sorry, did I just mishear you or did you agree with me?" Tony is shocked.
Nat makes a face, "Oh, I want to take it back now."
"Traitor," Spencer mutters, looking away when Nat looks back at Spencer.
"Spencer…" Nat tries.
"No, screw that! Hydra, Shield, United Nations can kiss my ass," Spencer snarls, "I can't even believe this is being discussed right now, you wanna be the United Nation's pretty little lap dog then go ahead!" Spencer's voice was full of fire and everyone stared at her shocked, "I would never place my trust in the hands of the government, never. Why do you think your daddy made Shield, Stark?"
Tony stared at Spencer, stunned. She would never refer to him by his surname unless he had fucked up royally.
"I have to go." Steve gets up sharply, drops the Accords on the coffee table, and goes downstairs.
Spencer is on his heels, ignoring Pietro's soft call. Steve is at the bottom of the stairs, leaning against the banister with his head bowed. Spencer reaches for him, "Steve?" Spencer's voice was soft, delicate.
"She's gone," Steve's voice cracks.
Spencer's heart drops into her stomach, "Oh…" Spencer feels the tears in her eyes as she hugs Steve tightly, and Steve lets her. Steve cries silently against her shoulder and Spencer holds him tightly, "Sssh, it's okay," Spencer whispers softly, unsure how to comfort her grieving friend.
This is a trash chapter, but it's something, lmao.