I don't own Avengers or its characters. I only own Riley Stark and other OCs that appear in the story.
Take on the World
Chapter 35: The Sokovia Accords
(2016)
Riley let out a soft sigh as she stood in the backstage of the assembly stage within MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology); a private research university specialised in applied science and engineering.
The Stark heiress wore a smokey purple long sleeved top with a dark plum cloth tied into a bow on the neck. The matching coloured pleat skirt had two buttons on the waistband. Underneath she wore black tights with smokey purple flats. Her chestnut hair was now cut short and styled in a curly bob hairstyle.
Despite being a school day, Riley was able to convince her father to attend the university with him since Pepper wasn't available to go with him.
Riley stood in the backstage to watch silently as her father demonstrated the students his latest device, the Binarily Augmented Retro-Framing.
The demonstration of the technology included her father's last meeting with his parents; Howard and Maria Stark.
The scene of the stage became a cream coloured living room with two people lounging comfortably within it.
Maria Stark appeared sitting at a beautiful grand piano and her hands moved across the black and white ivory keys to play a soft and kind tune.
A candle with a small yellow flame sat atop the piano, unwavering.
A 21 year old Tony Stark stretched out on the couch and covered nearly completely by a red blanket, snoring softly.
Maria played a soft lovely song using the piano as her voice gently began to sing.
"Try to remember the kind of September. When grass was green."Maria sang while her hands moved on the keys of the piano."Try to remember and if you remember, then follow..."
Riley smiled in a fragile way as she listened to her late paternal grandmother sing the song from the 1960 musical The Fantasticks which was her father's favourite song when he was a child.
Then Howard quickly stepped into the living room and pulled the blanket up off of Tony's face.
He stared down at the stirring young man with a somewhat disapproving expression before he dropped the red blanket back onto his son's face.
"Wake up, dear."Mary instructed as she stopped playing the keys of the piano."And say goodbye to your father."
Tony sniffed and threw the blanket off of his head.
Wearing a Santa hat, he tiredly blinked and gazed around the room while he slowly sat up.
"Who's the homeless person on the couch?"Howard questioned.
Tony gave a quiet laugh that sounded suspiciously like a scoff as he rolled off of the couch and bend up to his feet slowly.
He motioned his hands over towards Howard.
"This is why I love coming home for Christmas."Tony added with a smug and bitter smile."Right before you leave town."
Howard raised his eyebrows and dipped his chin at him, sliding his hands into his pockets.
"Be nice, dear, he's been studying abroad."Maria instructed softly.
"Really? Which broad?"Howard questioned."What's her name?"
Howard snatched Tony's Santa cap and then distractedly tossed it down.
"Candice."Tony answered.
"Do me a favour?"Howard spoke up, making Tony roll his eyes and clench his jaw."Try not to burn the house down before Monday."
"Okay, so it's Monday."Tony remarked."That is good to know. I will plan my toga party accordingly."
Tony moved to stand behind his mother as he slid his hands in his pockets.
"Where you going again?"Tony asked.
"Your father's flying me to the Bahamas."Maria answered with a small smile, glancing back at him."For a little getaway."
This caused Riley's heart to sink.
Her paternal parents never made it to the Bahamas.
Not even close.
"We might have to make a quick stop."Howard added.
"At the Pentagon."Tony interrupted quickly before turning to Howard."Right?"
Howard glanced down in acknowledgement.
Tony's tone filled with sarcasm as he leans towards his mother.
"Don't worry, you're gonna love the holiday menu at the commissary."Tony sneered.
Maria stared up at her son with a hint of amusement in her gentle blue eyes.
Tony began walked away Howard began lecturing him again.
"You know, they say sarcasm is a metric for potential."Howard stated."If that's true, you'll be a great man some day."
Before scowling over at his father, Tony stepped to the doorway and crossed his arms over his chest.
Howard glanced at Maria.
"I'll get the bags."Howard informed.
There was a long silence after the white haired man leaves the room.
Maria doesn't say anything for a long moment and her fingers pull away from the keys of the piano while she takes in a small breath.
The blonde haired woman finally looked over at her son.
"He does miss you when you're not here."Maria declared.
Tony remained silent as Maria went over to him.
"And frankly, you're going to miss us. Because this is the last time we're all going to be together."Maria explained."You know what's about to happen."
Maria placed a hand on Tony's arm.
The 21 year old young man stared at his mother for one last time to take in her features and remembering her face.
"Say something."Maria pleaded.
Tony pulled a face, angrily glancing at Howard as he entered the room again.
"If you don't, you'll regret it."Maria warned.
Tony sucked in a sharp breath, glaring off to the side before he turned his head to look at his mother once more.
Maria stared at her son with a pure yet honest expression.
Tony turned sharply to Howard and forcing a smile.
"I love you, dad."Tony admitted.
Tony turned back to Maria, giving her a sincere and soft smile.
"And I know you did the best you could."Tony informed.
Maria gently rested a hand on Tony's chest before she leaned in and planted one last kiss on her son's cheek.
Tony leaned into it, but it ended all too soon.
Howard slowly passed by without another word while Tony was left to watch his parents leave which would be the last time he would ever see them.
Then the video scene came to an end.
Tony dressed in a black suit walked in the doorway with his hands clasped together.
"That's how I wish it happened."Tony admitted.
The audience in the dark auditorium stayed silent, watching Tony straighten from the doorway and take a deep breath.
"Binarily Augmented Retro-Framing or BARF."Tony complemented.
Riley cringed a bit at the acronym while she stood off to the side of the stage, out of the view of the onlookers.
"God, I gotta work on that acronym."Tony declared as he raised his eyebrows before moving on."An extremely costly method of hijacking the hippocampus to clear..."
Tony rested his hands on the grand piano and glances down at the candle sitting there.
"Traumatic memories."Tony stated.
Tony blew softly on the flame and when it doesn't go out, he gave it two extra puffs before humming softly.
The entire simulation room was taken over by a light blue wave and then the walls, the young version of the billionaire and all the rest of the colour began to disintegrate into blue pixels.
"It doesn't change the fact that my parents never made it to the airport."Tony continued as he motioned out his hand, glancing down at the ground."Or all the things I did to avoid processing my grief, but..."
Tony pulled his glasses from his face, glancing down at them for a moment.
"Plus, $611 million for my little therapeutic experiment?"Tony said."No one in their right mind would've ever funded it."
Tony stepped out of the white set and further out onto the black stage.
"Help me out, what's the MIT mission statement? To generate, disseminate and preserve knowledge."Tony exclaimed."And work with others to bring it to bear on the world's great challenges."
Riley leaned her shoulder against the entryway of the stage, watching her father with a small smile.
"Well, you are the others."Tony admitted, gesturing to the crowd."And, quiet as it's kept, the challenges facing you are the greatest mankind's ever known. Plus, most of you are broke."
Everyone laughed before Tomy goes on quickly, raising his eyebrows and motioning out to them.
"Oh, I'm sorry."Tony apologised."Rather, you were."
Riley simply smiled as she watched everyone grow a little bit straighter in their chairs and their faces mix with confusion.
"As of this moment...every student has been made an equal recipient of the inaugural September Foundation Grant."Tony admitted.
Quiet sounds of surprise echo throughout the room as Tony paused for a moment.
"As in...all of your projects have just been approved and funded."Tony announced.
On hearing this, the audience burst with excitement, applauding and cheering as a proud smile grew on Riley's face.
She was glad that her father named it for Grandmother Maria.
It just felt right to name it after the song she used to sing for him.
"No strings! No taxes!"Tony yelled out."Just reframe the future! Starting now!"
Tony suddenly stopped causing a long silence to stretch on in the background.
Riley's body straightened as she leaned forward a little, trying to see what had made her father suddenly go so silent.
The young brunette let out a quiet sigh as she pressed her fingers to her lips.
Riley's eyes slowly trailed from the glass screen over to where her father stood within the lights.
He suddenly looked so lost and alone among them.
Tony opened his mouth slowly closed as he stared off into the darkness with a distant look in his eyes.
The billionaire suddenly remembered that he was up on stage in front of hundreds of people and his eyes danced around them, forcing a smile on his face.
"Go break some eggs!"Tony encouraged.
Tony gave a slight nod, dipping his head forward as he took a step back.
He threw up a quick hand to the audience that stood up and cheered before he turned around and moved away to head to the backstage.
Riley glanced at Tony with a worried expression.
"Are you okay, dad?"Riley questioned.
"I'm fine, Rye-Rye."Tony assured with a small smile."Just need a bit of fresh air."
Tony's pace was quick and unmeasured as he loudly pushed through the backstage door, holding it open for Riley to follow.
He walked the few steps to the door of the men's restroom only to stop to glance back at the wall and pause.
Riley stared at Tony cautiously while pointing a finger at the the bathroom door.
Tony shook his head, glancing over his shoulder at the closed door that separated them and the stage.
As the billionaire slid his hands into his pockets, he and his daughter moved further down the green-toned hallway and slow as they reached the elevator where Miriam Sharpe, a member of the State Department, stood there.
The woman beside the Starks was barely looking at them.
"That was nice, what you did for those young people."Miriam informed.
Riley looked over at Miriam and offered a polite smile.
"Ah, they deserve it."Tony agreed while looking down."Plus, it helps ease our consciences."
"They say there's a correlation between generosity and guilt."Miriam admitted."But if you've got the money..."
Miriam's eyes blinked over to the Starks.
But Riley couldn't really tell if it was a smile or a scowl that the woman was wearing on her face.
"Break as many eggs as you like."Miriam murmured.
Riley's brows briefly bend at Miriam as she tried to figure out what she exactly meant.
Tony's head flicked towards Riley, opening his mouth in fake amusement.
Miriam nodded. "Right?"
Tony pulled on a tight smile, turning slowly to stand in between Miriam and Riley.
Riley glanced at the elevator button and noticed that it hadn't been pushed, making her glance back at Miriam in silence.
She then pushed the elevator button and Tony tilted his chin to the side and looked at Miriam.
"Are you going up?"Tony asked.
Miriam turned her head to look at Tony.
"I'm right where I want to be."Miriam admitted.
Miriam suddenly brought her hand down into her purse, rifling inside for something to take out.
At the same time, Tony wrapped his arm around Riley waist, pulling her closer and behind him.
Miriam shifted up her narrowed eyes, looking at the Starks as if they were disgusting to her.
Tony stared at Miriam for a bit longer before he released his hold on Riley.
Riley's hand slowly slid from her father's suit coat and he released her waist.
"Sorry."Tony apologised."It's an...occupational hazard."
"I work for the State Department."Miriam declared."Human Resources. I know it's boring, but it enabled me to raise a son."
Miriam stared deeply at Riley.
Riley resisted the urge to look away, choosing instead to look the woman directly in the eyes.
Miriam's voice choked up a little and her eyes stay on Riley as if she was some sort of an example to her father.
"I'm very proud of what he grew up to be."Miriam admitted.
A look of confusion appeared on Riley's face, wondering where exactly this was going.
Miriam suddenly smacked a picture to Tony's chest and held it there.
"His name was Charlie Spencer. You murdered him."Miriam declared with her voice mixed with anger and grief."In Sokovia."
Both Tony and Riley looked at Miriam silently with pure looks of shock.
"Not that that matters in the least to you."Miriam retorted."You think you fight for us? You just fight for yourself."
On hearing this, Riley became angry, but kept her mouth shut.
Her father didn't fight for himself.
If he only fought for himself, he would've only been Iron Man once when he escaped captivity.
Miriam titled her head back, spitting the words out in disgust.
"Who's going to avenge my son, Stark?"Miriam asked coldly."He's dead...and I blame you."
Miriam then turned around and walked away while Tony and Riley silently watched her.
In the Avengers Tower, Pepper smiled softly as she finished washing her three months old daughter, Morgan Stark before drying and dressing her up in a pale pink onesie.
Morgan let out a small gurgle as her mother slowly picked her up and placed her in her arms.
Pepper brought Morgan to the living room to lay down the sofa to rock her slowly in her arms.
Morgan was a joyful child, always giggling and never crying.
She only cried whether she was hungry or needed her nappy changed.
The sound of the elevator opened causing Pepper to look to see that Tony and Riley have returned from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology University.
"Hey, guys."Pepper greeted kindly."How did it go?"
Riley gave her step-mother a fragile yet bright smile.
"Great."Riley remarked, trying to hide her upset feeling from Miriam's words."The MIT event was superb."
"Yeah."Tony agreed, playing along with his eldest daughter."What Rye-Rye said."
Riley went next to Pepper, so that her step-mother can place Morgan in her lap.
Morgan had dark chocolate brown hair tuft and gentle brown eyes.
Her baby half-sister was named after Pepper's eccentric uncle.
Riley gave Morgan a gentle kiss on the cheek as she held her.
It felt great being an older sister.
It was like a dream come true for the Stark heiress.
"Hey, Morgan."Riley cooed, giving a loving smile."What have you and mummy been up to?"
Morgan didn't say anything and simply looked at Riley with a silent curious expression.
"Aw, you're not in the mood to tell me?"Riley pouted.
Morgan gave Riley a small gurgle.
"I think she wants her dad to hold her."Pepper giggled.
"Right."Tony sneered.
Tony stepped forward, reaching for his infant daughter.
He held Morgan expertly and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
Morgan started gurgling happily at Tony.
"Guess all she needed was daddy love."Riley joked.
Pepper glanced at Riley.
"But she also needs your love too, Riley."Pepper reminded with a firm look."And it's your job to keep her safe."
Riley nodded. "Yes, Pepper."
Tony slowly rocked Morgan as he looked at her.
"You and Rye-Rye both look like me in the looks department."Tony commented and winked at Pepper."But she is perfect like you, honey."
Pepper let out a small laugh.
"Maybe Morgan will become a little inventor in the future."Pepper answered.
"That would be cool."Riley chuckled."We may end up creating the first flying car in the future."
Tony let out a fake wince.
"I prefer a career that doesn't include crashes and bruises. Thank you very much."Tony informed and gave Morgan a smile."How about ballet, sweetie?"
Morgan let out a happy laugh at her father.
(A Month Later)
Riley couldn't help but grin excitedly as she sat inside the orange Lamborghini with Tony as he brought them to the Avengers Compound.
She and her father were going to see Steve and the rest of the Avengers again.
The last time she saw them was during Morgan's christening.
But alas, the Stark heiress had a feeling the meeting was not going to be in friendly circumstances.
The Avengers were to get a visit by Betty's father, Secretary Thaddeus Ross due to the devastating terrorist attack in Lagos, Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of twenty-six people with eleven of the victims being relief workers from Wakanda.
The incident occurred a month ago and around the time that the Starks were visiting MIT.
After a few greetings, the group went to the room where the meeting would take place.
Around the table within the briefing room of the Avengers Compound sat Rhodey, Natasha, Steve, Sam, Vision, Tony, Wanda, Pietro and Riley.
Secretary Ross stood at the head of the table.
"Five years ago, I had a heart attack."Secretary Ross exclaimed, looking at the Avengers."I dropped right in the middle of my back-swing. Turned out it was the best round of my life because after 13 hours of surgery and a triple bypass. I found something 40 years in the Army had never taught me: Perspective. The world owes the Avengers an un-payable 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'."
Riley folded her arms in disapproval while Natasha gave Secretary Ross a frown.
"And what word would you use, Mr Secretary?"Natasha questioned.
"How about dangerous?"Secretary Ross suggested."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?"
Secretary Ross turned and activated a screen that showed past battles of the Avengers.
"New York."
Riley looked down and frowned in dismay.
"Washington D.C."
Riley looked up to see the screen showing the Helicarriers falling and people getting caught in the chaos.
"Sokovia."
The screen showed a scene of Ultron's robot army.
"Lagos."
Wanda paled at seeing the building that she made explode as Pietro placed his hand on his younger twin sister's to give a comforting squeeze.
"Okay."Steve stated firmly."That's enough."
Riley suddenly gave Secretary Ross a smirk.
"You're forgetting my dad in Malibu. Not once but twice, Secretary Ross."Riley remarked while raising up her hand in a fake enthusiastic tone."New York Expo? What about Miami when the President was strung up for death? Are you forgetting everything besides Sokovia because that was an accidental robot catastrophe which was dad and Uncle Bruce's fault. Sure. Everything else was us saving the world. From HYDRA. From idiot scientists. From a psychopath with daddy issues who wanted to take over our world."
Tony frowned. "Rye-Rye."
Secretary Ross gave Riley a small frown before glancing at the rest of the Avengers.
"For the past few years, you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision."Secretary Ross explained."That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution."
Secretary Ross then placed a large stack of papers on the desk before shoving it to Pietro and Wanda's way.
"The Sokovia Accords."Secretary Ross admitted."Approved by 117 countries. It states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organisation. 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 informed, aiding Riley's point."I feel we've done that."
"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?"Secretary Ross questioned.
Riley raised up her hand up again to earn everyone's attention.
"That's an easy question."Riley admitted with a fake bright smile."Uncle Bruce? Probably far from home and wants some time alone. Uncle Thor? Back to Asgard, making sure Earth isn't threatened again. Curious how all of this applies to him since he's not a citizen of any country, nor is he even human."
Steve smirked a bit at Riley at her declaration.
Secretary Ross let out a sigh.
"Miss Stark."Secretary Ross said with a frown."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."
"So, there are contingencies."Rhodey clarified.
"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords."Secretary Ross stated."Talk it over."
"And if we come to a decision you don't like?"Natasha asked.
"Then you retire."Secretary Ross answered with a smirk.
Secretary Ross then walked out of the briefing room like nothing happened.
Riley glared at the papers as Pietro silently read through them.
"This is ridiculous!"Riley retorted angrily."S.H.I.E.L.D. was a government organisation that was hijacked by HYDRA. An original German organisation. You guys saved the government's ass! I saw the trackers. There were over a million people set to die including all of the Avengers at that time!"
Rhodey shook his head.
"You don't understand, Riley."Rhodey commented.
This caused Riley's glare to go on Rhodey.
"Oh, I don't, Uncle Rhodey?"Riley questioned sarcastically."Besides dad and Uncle Bruce's screw up with Ultron! Every time we fought was to save the world from threats out of our control. So sorry people died in the process. But without the Avengers? The Chitauri would have taken over, so would have Loki!"
Rhodey stood up, shaking his head.
"We need limits."Rhodey declared.
A frown appeared in Sam's face.
"No. We need to be able to fight when we're needed. She's right."Sam agreed."Weren't you the one who saved the president that year? Without you and Tony, the President and Pepper would have died that day! Even Riley!"
Riley smirked at Sam.
"Thank you, Uncle Sam."Riley thanked.
Pietro frowned as he placed the papers down.
"But maybe they are right."Pietro suggested."Maybe we should be limited. I mean...a lot of countries want this."
Wanda gave Pietro a frown.
"You do realise this it will also mean for us to end up in prison, Pietro."Wanda informed.
On hearing this, Pietro became shocked.
"I take back what I just said."Pietro declared with a hint of regret.
A scoff escaped from Riley's mouth.
"They're just mad that they don't control us since we all live in the U.S."Riley muttered angrily.
"Maybe they should have some control."Rhodey argued.
Sam stood up from his seat to face Rhodey.
"Why now? Because of one screw up."Sam retorted."I don't care what Ross says."
"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honour which is one more than you have."Rhodey explained.
This caused Riley's mood to become more sour.
"I find it funny that the guy telling the Avengers that they need government control is the same guy who tried using the Hulk as a weapon."Riley muttered in an irritated tone.
Sam glared at Rhodey.
"So let's say we agree to this thing."Sam scowled."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.'"Rhodey said in a mocking voice."We got it."
"How long are you going to play both sides?"Sam snarled.
"I have an equation."Vision spoke up.
Sam rolled his eyes.
"Oh, this will clear it up."Sam scoffed.
"In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man, the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially."Vision exclaimed."And during the same period, the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate."
Steve raised an eyebrow at Vision.
"Are you saying it's our fault?"Steve questioned.
"I'm saying there may be a causality."Vision admitted."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."
Rhodey smirked. "Boom."
Tony moved to the couch as soon as Secretary Ross left with one hand over his face.
The billionaire removed the hand to look at Natasha when the red haired spy spoke up.
"Tony."Natasha responded."You are being uncharacteristically non-hyper-verbal."
"It's because he's already made up his mind."Steve stated.
Riley became surprised and Tony stood up to glare at Steve.
"Boy, you know me so well."Tony retorted and rubbed the back of his head."Actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache."
Grabbing a mug from the kitchen, the billionaire walked to the sink.
"That's what's going on, Cap. It's just pain. It's discomfort."Tony complemented and frowned when he noticed coffee ground in the sink."Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal? Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?"
Pietro looked away guilty, making Riley cover her mouth to giggle silently.
Suddenly, Tony placed his phone in a basket and tapped it.
The phone projected an image of a smiling young man.
Tony looked down, then back up to pretend to notice the picture for the first time.
Unlike the others, Riley knew who this was and seeing his face again brought butterflies in her stomach.
"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."Tony explained as he placed his arm a bit."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."
Rhodey, Natasha, Steve, Sam, Vision, Wanda and Pietro all silently glanced at each other at what Tony just revealed to them.
Riley silently began fiddling with the small magenta pink star gem connected on her gold bracelet that was on her right wrist.
"He wanted to make a difference, I suppose."Tony added."I mean, we won't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kicking ass."
Tony paused to take a pill with his drink before he continued speaking to his daughter and their comrades.
"There's no decision-making process here."Tony stated."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."
"Tony, someone dies on your watch, you don't give up."Steve reminded.
"Who said we're giving up?"Tony asked.
"We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions, dad."Riley informed."This document just shifts the blames."
Tony frowned, not happy that his daughter was on Steve's side in the situation.
"I'm sorry. Riley, that-that is dangerously arrogant."Rhodey answered."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."
"No, but it's run by people with agendas and agendas change."Steve declared.
"That's good. That's why I'm here."Tony commented."When I realised what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands, I shut it down and stop manufacturing."
"Tony, you chose to do that. If we sign this, we surrender our right to choose."Steve argued."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."
"If we don't do this now, it's gonna be done to us later."Tony retorted."That's the fact. That won't be pretty."
Wanda looked down with a glimpse of fear while Pietro glanced at her.
"You're saying they'll come for me."Wanda murmured.
"We would protect you."Vision assured.
"Maybe Tony's right."Natasha admitted causing Tony to become surprised."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 interrupted with a stern tone.
"I'm just...I'm reading the terrain."Natasha declared."We have made some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back."
Tony smirked. "Focus up. I'm sorry, did I just mishear you or did you agree with me?"
"Oh, I want to take it back now."Natasha retorted.
"No, no, no. You can't retract it. Thank you."Tony praised, making Riley cover her face in disappointment."Unprecedented. Okay, case closed, I win."
Steve noticed his phone buzzing and stood up abruptly when he saw the message he got.
"I have to go."Steve stated.
Riley stood up from her seat as well while glaring at Tony.
"I'm not signing."Riley informed.
"You can't sign anyway, Rye-Rye."Tony remarked with a smirk."You're just a kid."
"Then I am going back to Seville, dad."Riley answered in a casual tone."I hear the next flight to there is in two weeks."
Tony's mouth was agape as Riley turned around and walked out of the briefing room.
Sam stood up to stare at the group.
"I'm not signing either."Sam stated.
Tony threw his cup in the sink angrily as Rhodey watched Sam catch up with Riley.