Civil War | Scarlett Stark (1)

TWO

I walk out of my room and around the compound zipping up my jacket. The last few days has been interesting, I didn't expect to be asked to stay. I had nowhere else to go nor anything else to do so I accepted. I continue my way down the corridor before I stop in my tracks, Vision, my father's creation, due to him exiting Wanda's room.

"Oh, and apparently, he's brought a guest."

"Who bought a guest?" I question Vison's statement.

"Your father is here with a guest." My eyes widen. He's here?

"We know who it is?" Steve questions. I look into Wanda's room to see the two of them sitting on the bed together. I raise my eyebrows before taking a step back.

"The Secretary of State."

"Five years ago I had a heart attack and dropped right in the middle of my backswing. 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 unpayable 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.'" Secretary Ross explains as the Avengers listen sitting around a table in one of the compounds many offices. I look across the room at Tony sitting to my right on the other side of the room. I lean against the wall with my arms crossed listening.

"What word would you use, Mr Secretary?"

"How about 'dangerous'?" He responds. "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 turned on the tv behind him to show the Avengers fighting in New York. "New York." People are heard screaming as the camera pans across the city. I look down at the table as he changes the video. "Washington, D.C." I look back up at the screen, my face falling, to see people screaming again in D.C. "Sokovia." I breathe out as he changes the screen to police sirens blaring. "Lagos."

"Okay. That's enough." Steve orders. Ross complies by turning off the television.

"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 walks towards the table before placing a book on the table in front of Wanda. "The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 countries... it states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organization." She shoves it over towards James Rhodes causing him to grab it and look around the table. Ross continues to speak as he walks around the table. "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 questions looking at him. "If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes... you can bet there'd be consequences." He continues to walk towards the front of the table. "Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."

"So, there are contingencies." James states.

"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna... to ratify the Accords. Talk it over." I see Tony and Steve share a look. Natasha speaks, causing me to look at her.

"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" She questions.

"Then you retire."

"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honour... which is one more than you have." James states towards Sam Wilson as we sit in a lounge area. I sit on a seat with my legs crossed as I listen to the two argue.