Unloved - (Fem Reader X Bucky Barnes)

Chapter 29 - Accords

The next day we all were called for a meeting with Secretary Ross. I walk inside and sit beside Steve, turning to see dad sitting in the corner.

Secretary Ross steps in front of us. "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?"

Secretary Ross then activates a screen behind him. News footage from past Avengers and Shield matters flash on the screen as he speaks. "New York." We see 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. Rhodey looks regretful. He glances behind him at Natasha.

"Washington DC." He shows us three Insight helicarriers, firing on each other. A helicarrier crashing into the Potomac and throwing up a massive wave, engulfing citizens and the camera. Sam looks down.

"Sokovia." We see Terrified citizens, running. The city rising. A building falling over.

"Lagos." We see The burning building. Paramedics moving a body. A dead girl. Wanda is particularly affected by the footage from Lagos.

"Okay. That's enough." I say.

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 on the desk and passes it to Wanda. An aide hands him a thick book, which Ross also slides across the table to Wanda. She picks it up, then slides it 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."

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

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Steve looks up and meets Secretary Ross's eyes. "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 nods.

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

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

"Then you retire."

We move to the living room to talk this over....well kind of. Sam and Rhodey were fighting behind Steve and I. I was sitting on the arm of the chair and reading over the accords with Steve.

"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor, which is one more than you have."

"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?" Sam asks.

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

Sam sighs, "How long are you going to play both sides?"