Chaos | Steve Rogers

Chapter 9

Malia's pov:

"Secretary Ross has a congressional medal of honor. Which is one more than you have."

I rolled my eyes at Rhodey as he argued with Sam, which to be honest, would have been slightly amusing have I not had bigger things on my mind.

"So let's say we agree to this thing. How long before they low jack us like a bunch of common criminals?!" Sam argued.

"A hundred and seventeen countries signed this Sam," Rhodes countered, "A hundred and seventeen and you're just like "nah thats cool."'

I gritted my teeth. They were starting to give me a migrain.

"How long are you gonna play both sides?!" Sam demanded.

"I have an equation." Vision announced.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh this'll it clear up."

"In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man, the number of known enhanced people has grown exponentially. And during the same period the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commercial rate."

"Are you saying it's our fault?" Steve said looking up from the Book Of The Damned a.k.a. the Sokovia Accords.

"I'm saying there may be a causality," Vision corrected "Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge insights conflict. Conflict-

"Conflict breeds catastrophe," I interrupted, my face grim as I realised he was right. "On all sides."

Vision nodded meeting my grim look with one of his own.
But, there has to be a different way.

"Oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand."

I turned to Tony who-surprisingly-
hasn't said anything.

"You're being uncharacteristically non-hyper verbal." I quirked an eyebrow. "Are you sick? Do you have a fever?"

I went to check his temperature but he just swatted my hand away.

Rude.

"He doesn't have a fever Malia, he's just made up his mind." Steve spoke.

"Wow you know me so well." Tony drawled sarcastically. He got up and walked to the kitchen.

"Malia wasn't that off actually. I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache."

I smirked smugly at Steve. Called it.

"That's what's going on Cap." Tony continued, grabbing a cup from the counter. "That and discomfort. Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal?!"

Wanda focused her eyes on the ground.

"Busted." I whisper to her smugly.

She rolled her eyes and shoved her shoulder against mine.

She's violent that one.

"I don't run a bed and breakfast for a biker gang." Tony said and put a tablet on the counter. The screen lit to life and an image of a handsome young man appeared.

"Oh that's Charles Spencer, by the way. He's a great kid. Computer engineering degree, 3.6 GPA. Had a full level gig and an Intel plan for the fall. But first he wanted to put a few miles on his soul before he sat behind a desk. See the world, maybe even be in a circus."

He turned to look at us, his aura displayed so much sadness and guilt that I had to look away.

"Charles didn't want to go to Vegas or Cortland which is what I would do. He didn't go to Paris or Amsterdam he decided to spend his summer building sustainable houses, guess where? Sokovia."

I lowered my eyes as I realised just what he was implying.

"He wanted to make a difference I suppose. But we wouldn't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kicking ass. There's no debate here. We need to be put in check. If we can't accept boundaries, limitations, then we're no better than the bad guys."

"Tony just because someone dies on our watch doesn't mean we give up."

"Who said we're giving up Mal?"

"We are for not taking responsibility for our actions. This document just shifts the blame." Steve butted in.

"I'm sorry Steve but that is dangerously arrogant." Rhodey interrupted. "This is the United Nations we're talking about. It's not the World Security Council, it's not S.H.I.E.L.D. it's not HYDRA-"

"Oh just shut the fuck up Rhodey." I interrupted annoyed he wasn't getting it through his thick skull. "The United Nations is run by people with agendas and agendas change!"

Steve nodded. "Malia's right."

I eyebrows achieved orbit. "I'm sorry did you just say I'm right?"

He rolled his eyes though I swear a ghost of a smile graced his lips.

"Don't make me regret it."

"Will you two stop flirting! This is serious." Tony hissed. "This is good. This is why I'm here. When I realised what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands, I shut it down."

"Yes but Tony you chose to do that," Steve said obviously ignoring what Tony said. "If we sign this we surrender our right to choose. What if the panel sends us somewhere we don't think we should go? What if there's somewhere we need to go and they don't let us? We may not be perfect but the safest hands are still our own."

Tony sighed. "If we don't do this now it's gonna be done to us later. That's the fact. That won't be pretty."

"You're saying they would come for me and Lia." Wanda said, speaking up for the first time.

Vision shook his head. "We would protect you."

"Maybe Tony's right," Nat spoke causing me and Tony to look at her in shock. Did she just agree with Tony?!

"If we have one hand on the wheel we can still steer. If we take it off-"

"I'm sorry but aren't you the same woman who told the government to basically kiss her ass a few years ago?!" Sam interrupted.

"I'm just reading the terrain Sam." She sighs. "We have made some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back."

"I'm sorry, did I mishear you or did you just agree with me?" Tony said in disbelief.

"Oh I want to take it back."

"No no no, you can't return it. Thank you." Tony rebuffed.

I tuned them out when I saw Steve take out his phone. I didn't need to read his text. His aura said it all.

"I have to go."

"Do we go after him?" Vision asked.

I shook my head. "No just let him go."