Decisions and Splinters - Book 5 (Civil War)

Chapter 7 - Detainment

They sat in the back of a van, a metal grate between the rows of seats. It was quiet except for the sounds of the sirens from the long escort line.

"So you like cats?"

"Sam," Steve glanced at his friend next to him.

"What? Dude shows up dressed like a cat, you don't wanna know more?"
"You have to admit it's an interesting design," Annabelle said, glancing over at T'Challa beside her.

"Your suit. Is it vibranium?"

"The Black Panther has been the protector of Wakanda for generations. A mantle passed from warrior to warrior. And now because your friend murdered my father, I also wear the mantle of king. So I ask you, as both warrior and king, how long do you think you can keep your friend safe from me?" The rest of the ride continued in silence until they drove into a tunnel that led them underground and into a parking garage. The door on the side opened and they were escorted out by guards with large guns.

"There he is," Annabelle nodded her head and Steve looked over to see Bucky in a bulletproof glass container. He was in a seat with his arms restrained and there was at least three feet around him before the walls.

"What's gonna happen to him?" Steve asked as they walked over to meet Ross, Sharon standing next to him.

"Same thing that ought to happen to you. Psychological evaluation and extradition."

"This is Everett Ross, Deputy Task Force Commander," Sharon introduced them.

"What about a lawyer?"

"Lawyer. That's funny. See their weapons are placed in lockup," he told some of the guards standing nearby. They nodded and walked away, all of their weapons in hand. "Oh, we'll write you a receipt."

"I better not look out the window and see anybody flying around in that," Sam said before they started following Ross into the compound. Steve and Annabelle glanced over their shoulders at Bucky who's containment system was being moved behind closed doors.

"You'll be provided with an office instead of a cell. Now do me a favor, stay in it."
"I don't intend on going anywhere," T'Challa assured him.

"For the record, this is what making things worse looks like," Natasha said as she met them.

"He's alive," was all Steve said. They walked into the command center, Tony standing in the room on the phone.

"He looks pissed," Annabelle muttered.

"Colonel Rhodes is supervising clean up," Tony told the person on the other line.

"Try not to break anything while we fix this," Natasha said.

"Consequences? You bet there'll be consequences," Tony said while looking at Steve. "Obviously you can quote me on that because I just said it. Anything else? Thank you, sir."

"Consequences?"
"Secretary Ross wants you all prosecuted. Had to give him something."

"I'm not getting that shield back, am I?"

"Technically, it's the government's property. Wings too," Natasha shrugged before starting to walk off with Tony.

"That's cold," Sam told her.

"Warmer than jail," Tony shrugged.

"My staff isn't," Annabelle spoke up.

"Well, I helped make it, so it's partially my property and you're grounded from it right now," Tony said, ignoring the glare Annabelle gave him as he walked away and they were each escorted into a separate soundproofed office. Annabelle spent her time watching the screens all around the room with security cameras, focusing on the ones with Bucky.

"Having fun?"

"Oh yeah. Sitting in a soundproof box in custody by myself is so much fun."

"Well, I brought you something cool," Tony said, sitting down at the desk and she turned, finally doing the same. "FDR signed the Lend-Lease bill with these in 1941. Pulled them from Dad's archives," he said, showing her the pens in the box.

"Does it make me old if I say I remember when that happened."

"Just a little," he gave her a small smile. "That bill provided support to the Allies when they needed it most."

"A lot of people said it brought us closer to war. And eventually we did go to war."

"Well, if not for these, you wouldn't be here."

"Gotta point," she sighed, leaning back. "Where's Pepper? I haven't seen her in a while."

"We're... kinda- Well, not kinda-"

"Tony, just spit it out."

"We're taking a break. It's nobody's fault."

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I shouldn't have asked."

"You didn't know," he shrugged. "A few years ago, I almost lost her, so I trashed all my suits. Then we had to mop up Hydra and then Ultron. My fault." Annabelle only gave him a look. "And then, and then, and then, I never stopped. Because the truth is I don't want to stop." He paused, looking at her. "I think it's the same for you."

"Don't try to assume my feelings."
"I'm not," he held his hands up. "But you're a lot like me in some good ways and some bad. Annabelle, you're seventeen years old and look at where you are. Yeah, you've saved the world-- multiple times-- and you can't stop. Because as terrible and hard as this job is, you don't want to walk away from it." She stayed quiet. "I don't want to lose Pepper, but I don't want to lose Iron Man either. I thought maybe the Accords could split the difference. I thought maybe they could do the same for you."

"Split me from what? This... This is my life."

"Exactly. You haven't been a kid since 1941. And even that wasn't much of a childhood."

"It was fine."

"You should be going to school and going on dates and going to parties where there's alcohol and drugs and we have to yell at you when you get back home." She rolled her eyes. "You should be out being a normal teenager. I thought maybe the Accords would do that for you." He looked at her while she looked away. "Why didn't you sign?"

"Because I don't know what I want to do." She paused, licking her lips as she tried to figure out what to say. "Things were finally... good, I guess. I don't want that to change."

"Whether we like it or not, they have to. We get to decide how though. So far, nothing's happened that can't be undone if you sign. We can make the last twenty four hours legit. Barnes gets transferred to an American psych-center instead of a Wakandan prison. We stay together."

She looked at the pen and then the Accords sitting on the table. "This document isn't perfect. It has things that need to be changed and fixed."

"The Constitution did too when it was created. Once we put out the PR fire, those documents can be amended. I'd file a motion to have you, your brother, and Wanda reinstated-"

"Wanda? What's wrong with Wanda?"

"She's fine. She's confined to the compound currently. Vision's keeping her company."

"What?"

"It's one hundred acres with a lap pool," he tried to calm her down. "It's got a screening room. There's worse ways to protect people."

"Protection? That's what you're calling it?"

"She's not a US citizen and they don't grant visas to weapons of mass destruction."

"She's not a- She's a person like you and me!" "With extremely dangerous powers!" They stared at each other in silence. "I'm doing what has to be done," he eventually said. "To stave off something worse." She turned back around, crossing her arms and staring at the security cameras. She heard Tony sigh before getting up and walking out of the room.

Sorry about all of the waiting for this chapter. My computer died and I had to wait to get a new one, but I finally did, so hopefully now I can get back to posting. I just started summer vacation, so I don't know if that will help or hurt posting regularity, but hopefully it helps. 

It's super late, so I will come back and edit this later.