Iron Love - Tony Stark X Reader

Chapter 28 - The Accords

All of us were sitting at a table, Ross standing in front of us. I look back as Tony sat in a chair in the back of the room. "Five years ago, I had a heart attack. 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"."

"And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" Nat asks.

"How about "dangerous"? 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?" Ross activates a screen behind him. News footage from past Avengers and Shield matters flash on the screen as he speaks. "New York."
A Chitauri leviathan. Terrified citizens. A soldier firing a gun. The Hulk smashes into a building and sends a dust cloud to engulf the camera.Rhodes looks regretful. He glances behind him at Natasha. "Washington DC." The three Insight helicarriers, firing on each other. The destroyed Triskelion. A helicarrier crashing into the Potomac and throwing up a massive wave, engulfing citizens and the camera. Sam looks down, I look over at Steve. "Sokovia."Terrified citizens, running. The city rising. A building falling over. I close my eyes as it shows a video of me flying and pushing destroying many bots and the. Pushing Ultron into a building. "Lagos." The burning building. Paramedics moving a body. A dead girl. Wanda is particularly affected by the footage from Lagos.

Steve sees this and intervenes. "Okay. That's enough." I hold onto her hand and squeeze it.

Secretary Ross nods to an aide and the images disappear. "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." He places a thick document and book on the desk and passes it to Wanda. She picks it up, then slides it to me. "The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 countries.....it states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organization. Instead, they'll operate under the supervision of a United Nations panel, only when and if that panel deems it necessary." I slide the document and book to Rhodes.

"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that." Steve interrupts.

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Ross sighs when he doesn't answer. "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." Rhodes asks.

"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords." Steve glances at Tony, who looks down at his feet. "Talk it over."

"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" Nat asks.

"Then you retire." We all watch as he leaves.

After reading over the Accords, I was still unsure of my discussion. Sam and Rhodes were arguing while Steve was reading it over. "Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor, which is one more than you have." Rhodes yells at Sam.

"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?"

"A 117 countries want to sign this. 117, Sam, and you're just like, No, that's cool. We got it." Rhodes rolls his eyes.

"How long are you going to play both sides?" Same yells.

"I have an equation." Vision speaks up.