Obsession-Book Three (Steve Rogers)

6. ACCOUNTABILITY

Here come the man with the look in his eye
Fed on nothing but full of pride
Look at them go, look at them kick
Makes you wonder how the other half live

-Devil Inside by INXS

Steve, Sophia and Wanda made their way downstairs to the conference room. Bruce, Sam, Nat, Vision, and Rhodey were already seated. Tony was seated off to the side. Wanda took her seat next to Vision, while Steve took a seat towards the end of the table, leaving Sophia at the head. She took a look at Tony, who glanced at her and then away. Fear radiated from her heart and she took a hold of Steve's hand. The only members that were missing were Bucky, Clint, Pietro, Thor, and Scott. Thor was back in Asgard, Pietro was on a leave of absence and Clint and Scott were home with their families. Bucky was still on assignment and incommunicado per ops guidelines.

At the other end of the table stood Secretary Ross. His dark blue suit pressed perfectly, his graying hair comb back and straight. He looked powerful and Sophia knew that this meeting would just be the trigger to his power being known. His gaze lingered on Sophia, causing Steve and Sam to notice. Once everyone was seated, he started.

"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".

Natasha looks up at Ross, "And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?"

Ross walked around the table. "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."

Video from the Chitauri investigation. Sophia watches the destruction, remember watching the reports from her apartment in DC.

"Washington DC."

Sophia watched 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. She shuddered at her work. She sees Sam looking down.

"Sokovia."

Terrified citizens, running. The city rising. A building falling over. Wanda stares at the screen, as does Tony.

"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."

Ross continues. "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 on the desk and passes it to Wanda. She looks at it and slides it over to Rhodey.

"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."

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

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where the other Avengers are right now? 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."