Divided We Fall (Bucky Barnes)

The Accords

Back at the Avengers compound Anne and Steve watch the news report on the events of Lagos. Anne paces back and forth as she watches.

"11 Wakandans were among those killed during a confrontation between the Avengers and a group of mercenaries in Lagos, Nigeria, last month." The female news anchor says. "The traditionally reclusive Wakandans were on an outreach mission in Lagos when the attack occurred."

"Our people's blood is spilled on foreign soil. Not only because of the actions of criminals, but by the indifference of those pledged to stop them. Victory at the expense of the innocent, is no victory at all." The Wakandan King, T'Chaka states. 

"The Wakanda king went on to..." The reporter is cut off by Steve turning the TV off. 

The sound drifts from another room. Anne and Steve enter the room and find Wanda watching on her television from her bed. 

"They are operating outside and above the international law. Because that's the reality, if we don't respond to acts like these." The male anchor states "What legal authority does an enhanced individual like Wanda Maximoff have to operate in Nigeri -"

Anne grabs the remote from her table and shuts it off.

"It's my fault." Wanda says, saddened.

Anne sits on one side of Wanda while Steve sits on the other.

"That's not true." Anne says.

"Turn the TV back on. They're being very specific."

"I should've clocked that bomb vest long before you had to deal with it." Steve says. "Rumlow said "Bucky" and . . . all of a sudden I was a 16-year-old kid again, in Brooklyn."

"And people died. It's on us." Anne adds.

"It's on all of us." Wanda says.

"This job . . . we try to save as many people as we can. Sometimes that doesn't mean everybody. But if we can't find a way to live with that, next time . . . maybe nobody gets saved." Steve explains.

Vision interrupts them as he materializes through the wall into Wanda's room.

"Vis! We talked about this." Wanda exclaims. 

"Yes, but the door was open so I assumed that . . ." Vision says an gestures to the door "Captain Rogers wished to know when Mr. Stark was arriving."

"Thank you. We'll be right down." Steve says.

"I'll . . . use the door." He says exiting the room "Oh, and apparently, he's brought a guest."

Anne, Steve, and Wanda make eye contact.

"Who?" Anne asks.

"The Secretary of State."

They walk into the room where Thaddeus Ross stands at the head of the table. Rhodey, Natasha, Tony, Sam, and Vision sit as well.

"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"." Ross says. 

"And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" Natasha 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 and begins playing clips from past events.

"New York." 

A Chitauri leviathan. Terrified citizens. A soldier firing a gun. The Hulk smashes into a building and sends a dust cloud.

"Washington D.C."

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. Anne sighs and Sam looks down.

"Sokovia." 

Terrified citizens, running. The city rising. A building falling over. Wanda stares at the screen as she remembers Pietro. 

"Lagos."

The burning building. Paramedics moving a body. A dead girl. Tears start to form in Wanda's eyes. 

"Okay, thats enough." Steve says

"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." Ross says and slides a book across the table to Wanda. She passes it around. "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."

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

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Ross asks.

Their eyes meet. 

"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 says.

"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords." Ross states. "Talk it over."

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

"You retire." 

Natasha stifles a smile.