UNKNOWN GUEST

#80 The Trip To Vienna

I stood in the middle of this giant mess, feeling like I was being pulled in a hundred different directions. Dad's stubborn about the Accords, and Uncle Sam's got his back completely, no surprise there. They both believe in their fight, even if it means going against almost everyone else. 

Uncle Clint? He's done, flown out of this whole situation. Said he doesn't want to be dragged into this mess and agreed to the retirement part of the Accords. I mean, good for him, I guess, but I can't help feeling like it's all falling apart.

Aunt Wanda—she's still undecided. She's caught in the middle of everything, torn between loyalty to Dad and the guilt she's feeling about Lagos. 

And then there's Uncle Tony, already with pen in hand, ready to sign. Colonel Rhodes is standing right by him, loyal as ever. The two of them are on a mission to prove that accountability is the way forward.

But then there's Mom. She's signing too, which, honestly, has been the hardest part for me to wrap my head around. I've always admired her ability to stand firm in her beliefs, so seeing her agree to the Accords feels like a punch to the gut. I can't figure out why she's doing it, but I know her well enough to realize she's got her reasons—even if I don't fully understand them.

And now, on top of all this, I've got to stick close to her for her trip to Vienna. The world leaders are gathering, and I already know what's coming—the blast that's going to go off at the meeting, courtesy of Zemo. It's frustrating, knowing what's about to happen and being unable to stop it. But I have to be there. I have to stick with her because if anything happens to Mom, there's no way I'm letting Zemo get away with it.

I stepped onto her floor, noticing the subtle buzz of last-minute preparations as she stood in the middle of her room, already dressed in her travel clothes, ready to leave for Geneva. Her gaze locked on me the moment I walked in, and she raised an eyebrow in surprise, her tone sharp, "What are you still doing here?"

I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes, feigning confusion. "What am I supposed to be doing?"

She sighed, crossing her arms in return, looking slightly annoyed. "The way you argued with Tony, I thought you'd be on a plane to London with Steve and Sam by now. Not signing the Accords, just like them."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Ma'am, I'm not qualified to be in the middle of this mess. I'm not an Avenger, remember?"

She rolled her eyes at me, her expression softening only slightly. "Then why did you jump into this matter again, huh? Tony is furious with you."

I sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I know he is. But he can't just dismiss Cap's suggestion outright. During the whole Ultron mess, when everyone pointed fingers at Mr. Stark, I had his back because I understood where he was coming from. But here? He's throwing around words like accountability, blame, trust—all this 'blah blah blah.'" I sighed again, trying to get my thoughts in order before continuing, "And to be honest, the bigger question is, how can you agree to sign it, ma'am?"

She exhaled deeply, her stance slightly shifting. "With all those incidents, people don't trust us anymore. We need to earn their trust again."

I shook my head, frustration bubbling beneath my calm exterior. "Ma'am, you've seen what happened with SHIELD, yet you're saying it's better to function under them?" My words came out sharper than I intended, but I needed her to see it—really see it.

She didn't miss a beat, countering with that familiar firmness in her tone. "It's different than SHIELD. Didn't you see the 117 signatures from world leaders approving the Accords?"

I let out a heavy sigh, my eyes narrowing slightly. "And what about the countries that haven't signed the Accords? When their people need help, will the Avengers stand by and do nothing? Will those 117 signatures let you intervene? Cap's right here—you know that. This isn't about protection; it's about control. Once the Avengers stop fitting into their agenda, they'll shut you down. Either they'll force you to retire or lock you up. The Sokovia Accords are nothing but a tool for power. I just hope you're considering all of that."