Perception

~CHAPTER 07~

AVENGERS COMPOUND three hours later

Leaning against the leg of the chair Steve sat in reading the accords, Persephone found herself growing tired. sighing, she blocked out Sam and Rhodey arguing in the background. they had been bickering for an hour straight now. and she couldn't take it any longer.

Tony sat at the other end of the Coffe table leaned back in his chair, hands pinching his brows. Bethany leaned comfortably against his side. playing with the ends of her hair.

"117 countries want to sign this thing," Rhodey said to Sam.

"How long are going to play both sides?" Sam asked arms crossed over his chest.

"I have a solution," Vison interrupted placing his cup of tea down on the coffee table.

"Oh this will clear it up," Sam said sarcastically turning his attention to vision. Cap looked up from the accords and glanced down at Seph who rested her head against his leg.

"in the eight years Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man, the number of known enhanced persons has increased." Cap eyed him suspiciously, preparing to turn the page." During the same period, the same number of potentially world-ending events has also increased," he continued.

"Are you saying it's our fault?" Persephone asked eyeing him dangerously. Cap, Tony, and Natasha looked at her shocked she was just now sharing her opinion on the whole situation.

"I'm saying there may be a causality," Vison explained to Seph. She nodded listening and leaned her head back against Steves's leg. Looking around the room, Vison continued.

"Our very strength invites challenge, challenge inflicts conflict, and conflict breeds catastrophe" He stated. 

"Boom," Rhodey said looking at Sam agreeing completely with what Vison said.

"Tony, You're being uncharacteristic non- hyperverbal," Natasha said looking over at him.

"It's because he's already made up his mind," Steve interjected.

"Boy, you know me so well..." Tony said sarcastically. "I'm actually resting an electromagnetic headache," he said getting up from his seat making his way back into the kitchen."Who's putting coffee grounds into the disposal?" Tony asked placing his old mug in the sink. Persephone sunk a little deeper into Steves's leg, knowing it was her. Natasha smirked at this and looked back over to tony.

"There's no decision-making process here, we need to be put in check, whatever form of that takes I'm game," He said crossing his arms leaning against the counter. "If we can't accept limitations, were boundary-less, were no better than the bad guys!"

"Tony, someone dies on your watch you don't give up," Steve said looking towards him firm face.

"Who said we're giving up?" Tony asked

"This document gives the government the right to decide if we can or can't help, they make the decision, Tony," Cap said getting aggravated.

"This is the United nations we are talking about, it's not world security council, it's not Shield, it's not Hydra." Rhodey Informed.

"No, But it's run by people with agendas, and agendas change," Persephone said standing up moving towards the kitchen as well.

"Okay, but that's good, that's why I'm here," Tony said to his daughter who rushed past him to get another water. "When I found out my weapons were in the wrong hands, I stopped manufacturing them, I shut it down." He said walking towards Cap.

"Dad, you chose to do that," Persephone said walking up behind him water in hand.

"If we sign this we surrender our right to chose," Cap said agreeing with Seph. Tony looked back at his daughter a look of disappointment on his face.

"What if they send us somewhere we don't want to go, what if we want to help but they won't let us?" Seph asked now looking over at her sister, who was sitting crisis cross apple sauce on the chair Tony once was on.

"The safest hands are still our own," Steve said nodding. Tony looked around at everyone before continuing.

"If we don't do this now, it's gonna be done to us later!" he said trying to keep his cool.

"You're saying they'll come for me?" Wanda asked frightened.

"We would protect you," Vison said looking towards Wanda.

"Maybe Tony's right?" Natasha said looking down at the floor. Steve watched her the small flicker of hope he had vanishing.

"Aren't you the same woman who told the government to kiss their ass a few years ago?" Sam asked arms crossed looking at her questioningly.

"I'm just... I'm reading the terrain," Natasha said defending herself.

"Nat's right, we could still help, and would just give the public a more trusting view of us," Bethan said finally sharing her own opinion as well.

"We need to win their trust back," Natasha said looking at beth nodding her head.

"wait, am I just hearing this, or did you just agree with me?" Tony asked looking down at Nat playfully.

"Oh, I wanna take it back now," Nat said shaking her head.

Just then, a ding echoed through the room, Cap opened his phone face turning pale. "I have to go," he said throwing the accords on the table he left the room quickly. They all eyes his suspiciously and Persephone debated following after him or not.

"I'm just gonna," She said quickly heading after him.

"Seph, wait," Tony tired but she was already out the door.

Hearing soft muffled cries, Persephone slowed down, noticing it was coming from down the stair well. she crept down seeing Cap leaned against the railing. hand covering his face.

"Hey Steve, you okay?" She asked carefully, she had never actually seen him cry before. Nothing she was there, he fixed his posture and put on a fake smile.

"I'm fine Seph, it's just..." He paused for a moment. Seph leaned against the wall across from him nodding for him to continue.

"It's just Peggy has passed," He said shaking his head looking down. Seph watched a moment longer before running and hugging him tightly. he hugged back, and looked down at her,

"Thank you," he said a single tear rolling down his cheek.

"I'm gonna be here for you, It's going to be okay." She said into his shoulder. Sadness evedent in her tone.