Fire and Ice

•36•

They all gather in the conference room. Steve's at the end of the table, on Kate's left. Nat is on her right, next to Rhodey, and Sam across from her. Next to him are Vision and Wanda. Tony sits off to the side, while Secretary Ross stands at the head of the table. There's cups and pitchers of water, but Kate has her coffee with her. It's cooled a bit, but she drinks it anyway.

"Five years ago," Ross starts. "I had a heart attack. I dropped right in the middle of my back-swing. Turns out it was the best round of my life, because after thirteen hours of surgery and a triple bypass... I found something forty 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, using much the same tone she had on Capitol Hill, after SHIELD went down.

"How about 'dangerous?'" Ross replies. "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?" The screen behind him turns on, playing footage from their various battles. "New York."

An eel monster flies through the air, people scream and run from Chitauri soldiers and the Hulk that comes after them, raining dust and debris on the camera as he jumps from building to building.

"Washington DC."

The Hellicarriers fire, sinking into the river as people run for their lives from the water and destruction.

"Sokovia."

Kate's throat tightens as she watches people running and screaming, the country flying in the air, buildings tumbling and crashing like blocks. Nat's hand finds hers, but she doesn't turn, doesn't even pull away for fear of burning her. A rock sits in her stomach.

"Lagos."

The building is on fire, sirens are going off. A woman is laying in the dust. It's unclear if she's alive or not. Someone they weren't able to save, to protect. Kate looks away.

"Okay, that's enough," Steve says. The screen goes off, and Kate takes a breath, gently pulling her hand from Nat's as she turns back to Ross. Across the table, Wanda's eyes are downcast, and Steve's looking at her with concern.

"For the past four years," Ross says, "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 grabs a ream of paper, covered officially, binded together, and passes it to Wanda. "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 says.

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now? If I misplaced a couple of thirty 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, the Accords now in front of him.

"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."

Everyone pauses, no one looking at each other. Only when Ross sits down does everyone get up, moving into the living room. The Accords get passed around, skimmed. Kate doesn't even look at them. She doesn't need to.