𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐄 ~ 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐤

Part Sixty Four

The Secretary of State, Thaddeus Ross, was standing at the head of a table at the Avengers HQ. Rhodey, Natasha, you, Steve, Tony, Sam, Vision, and Wanda were gathered around the table. You were sat next to Natasha, turning your phone in your hands as the Secretary spoke.

"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." He said. "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?" Natasha asked the man.

"How about dangerous?" He asked."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 activated. Soon, all of you saw the news footage from previous Avengers mission flash one after the other on the screen as he spoke."New York."You saw the alien army making its way through the portal, terrified citizens running from it, the police and... the Avengers. You glanced at Tony, who shared the same look of guilt with you.

"Washington DC." He said and you saw the three Insight helicarriers, firing on each other, along with the destroyed Triskelion, then one of the helicarriers crashing into the river and throwing up a massive wave.

"Sokovia." You saw the footage of the city rising as buildings were falling over. You shared a look with Wanda.

"Lagos." The footage switched, showing the burning building, the dead people being moved from it.

"Okay. That's enough." Steve, who saw how the footage affected Wanda, said.

The images immediately disappeared.

"For the past four years, you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision." Ross said. "That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution." He said as he placed a thick document on the table, making all of you look at it. He passed it to Wanda. She picked it up, her eyes scanning over it quickly before she slid it towards Rhodey.

Ross started to explain, "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 spoke up, "The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that."

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Ross asked, causing Steve to look up at him."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 said.

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

"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" Natasha asked.

"Then you retire." The Secretary simply said, and Natasha stifled a smile.

As soon as he was gone, Rhodey and Sam were arguing behind Steve, who was reading the Accords. You were pinching the bridge of your nose, already tired from their discussion.

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

"So let's say we agree to this thing."Sam suggested. "How long is it gonna be before they LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals?"