Chaos | Steve Rogers

Chapter 8

Malia's pov:

"What legal authority does a gifted individual like Malia Summers have, to operate in Nigeria-"

I turned to look at Steve, who was leaning against my door and holding my TV remote.

"Nice job working the remote Capsicle," I gave him a thumbs up and a sarcastic smile, "very impressive considering not two weeks ago, you were asking me how to turn on the microwave."

He ignored my jab and set the remote down, quirking one of his perfectly blonde, perfectly shaped, perfectly irritating eybrows at me.

I focused my attention on the ground and tried not to look at him.

"It's my fault."

"That's not true."

"Turn the TV back on. They're being very specific."

"I should have dealt with that bomb long before you had to deal with it." He said sitting down beside me. I kept my eyes on the ground.

"Rumlow said Bucky and all of a sudden I was a sixteen year old kid in Brooklyn."

I couldn't help but smirk.

"I read your file you know. You were a scrawny little guy." I said poking him in the chest. He quickly caught my hand though and forced me to look at him.

"Stop it." He ordered.

"Alright alright. Jeez I'll keep my hands to myself then."

Steve rolled his eyes. "That's not what I'm talking about and you know it." His eyes softened as he laced his fingers with mine. "Stop hiding behind sass and sarcasm. It's alright to feel. People die. This job... we tried to save as many people as we can. Sometimes that doesn't mean everybody. But if we can't find a way to live with that then next time then," he shrugs, "maybe nobody can say anything."

As I processed his words i couldn't help but notice him leaning closer to me.

Suddenly Vision walks through the wall and I snap back to reality. I ripped my hand from Steve's and turn my head to try to hide the blush in my cheeks. I suspect I'm failing miserably.

"Vision!" I greeted him happily - though one might describe my smile as murderous.

"I though you and Wanda talked about this?" I said smiling, though the glare on my face said it all.

"The door was open so I assumed.." he trailed off in uncertainty when he saw the look on our faces.

"Captain Rogers wishes to know when Mister Stark arrived."

Steve straightened up. "I'll be right down.

Vision nodded. "I''ll use the door this time. Oh and apparently he's brought a guest."

I frowned. This can't be good.

"You know who he is?"

"The Secretary of State."

Steve and Vision left to meet the demonic hell beast while I hesitated at the door.

I quickly pulled up my sleeve to reveal black viens starting at the inside of my wrist and going all the way to the inside of my elbow.

I took a deep breath and pulled the sleeve down. It was spreading fast. I didn't have long now.

¤¤¤¤¤¤

"Five years ago I had a heart attack and dropped mid swing. Turns out that was the best round in my life, because after thirteen hours of surgery and a triple bypass, I found something fourty years of the military never taught me."

"That you need to get a life?" I interrupted, already sick of his nonsense.

"Lia, be quite." Stark said coldly.

The Secretary nodded to him in gratitude and then he was talking again.

"Perspective. The world owes the Avengers an unpayable dept. You have fought for us, protected us, risked your lives, but while a great many people see you as heroes, there are some who prefer the word vigilante."

"And what word would you use Mr. Secretary." I spat trying to keep my temper in control.

"How about dangerous. What would you call a group of US based, enhanced individuals who routinely ignore foreign borders and inflict their will wherever they choose and who - frankly - seem unconcerned what they leave behind."

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. This douchebag was just begging to get his ass kicked isn't he?

As if sensing my thoughts, Steve put his hand on mine and gave it a squeeze, warning me to stay quite.

I closed my eyes and tried to relax.

The screen behind the Secretary lit up and a video of aliens crashing into buildings and people screaming for their lives, popped up.

"New York."

The scene changed. A helicarrier crashed into the water sending a large wave towards the civilians standing near. A burning building was collapsing and once again people were screaming for their lives.

"Washington D.C."

The scene changed again. An entire city floating in the air, buildings collapsing on each
other.

"Sokovia."

I closed my eyes as memories of my grandmother invaded my brain. How a robot shot her in the chest. How I failed to save her.

My hand tightened against Steve's.

He glanced at me worriedly. He knew about my grandmother and how I blamed myself for her death.

The scene changed once last time.

A burning building, people being tended by the paramedics while others lay on the ground. Dead.

My hand tightened around Steve's even more. This was a scene i was all too familiar with.

"Lagos."

"Alright that's enough." Steve said coldly.

The secratery nodded and continued speaking.

"For the past four years you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That's an arrangment the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution."

He grabbed a large white book and handed it to Wanda who passed it along to Rhodey who kept passing it along.

"The Sokovia Accords. Approved by a hundred and sventeen 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."

So they're putting us on a dog leash. Yay.

"The avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that." Steve said.

You go Stevie! Stick it to the man.

"Tell me Captain do you know where Thor and Banner are right now? If I missplaced a couple of thirty ton nukes you can bet there'd be consequences."

"They aren't objects for you to missplace Thaddeus." I said coldly. "They are two beings with their own free will and can do whatever the hell they want. And after everything they've done, everyone they've saved, we owe them those rights. And besides have you seen them cause any trouble?"

The secratery was speechless. I smirked. Checkmate bitch.

He ignored me and started talking again.

You know I can't remember a time when he is NOT speaking!

"Compromised reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me this is the middle ground."

"So there are contenginces?" Rhodes asked.

Thaddeus nodded. "Three days from now the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the accords. Talk it over."

"And if we come to a decision you won't like?" I drawled.

"Then you retire."