Alone

21: Sokovia Accords part. 2

"Secretary Ross has a congressional Medal fo Honor which is one more than you." Rhodey said to Sam angrily, causing an eye roll from Tony. Steve sat quietly reading the Accords. I sat quietly looking at everyone feeling the tension between my teammates in the room. I fiddled with my necklace as the yelling continued.
"So let's say we agree to this thing. How long is it gonna be before they LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals?" Sam asked.
"A hundred and seventeen countries want to sign this. A hundred and seventeen, and you're just like No that's cool. We got it." Rhodey said angrily.
"How long are you going to play both sides?" Sam asked, before being interrupted by Vision.
"I have an equation." He said as everyone turned to him.
"Oh this will clear it up." Sam said sarcastically.
"In the eight years since Mr Stark announced himself as IronMan the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially. During the same period the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate." He said, causing Steve to look at him.
"You saying it's our fault?" Steve asked.
"I'm saying there may be a causality. Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge invites conflict. And conflict- breeds catastrophe. Oversight... oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand." He continued.
"Boom." Rhodey said looking at Sam.
"Tony? You're being uncharacteristically non-hyper verbal." Natasha said turning to Tony.
"It's because he already made up his mind." Steve said speaking up.
"Boy you know me so well." Tony said standing up and walking to the kitchen "actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache. That's what's going on cap, it's just pain. It's discomfort. Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal, am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?" He said getting angrier. He pulled out his phone and placed it on the counter, pushing a button displaying a picture of a man. "Oh that's Charles Spencer by the way. He's a great kid. Computer engineering degree, 3.6 gpa, had a floor level gig at intel planned for the fall. But first he wanted to put a few miles on his soul before he parked it at a desk. See the world. Maybe be of service. Charlie didn't want to go to Vegas or Fort Lauderdale, which is what I would've done. He didn't go to Paris or Amsterdam, which sounds fun. He decided to spend his summer building sustainable housing for the poor. Guess where. Sokovia." I swallowed my gasp, guilt, and sorrow washed over me once more. "He wanted to make a difference, I suppose. We won't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kicking ass." He said taking a sip of his coffee. I once again fidgeted with my necklace as I always did when emotions are away at me. "There's no decision-making process here. We need to be put in check. Whatever form that takes, I'm game. If we can't accept limitations, if we're boundary-less we're no better than the bad guys."
"Tony, if someone dies on your watch, you don't give up." Steve said speaking up, I turned to him now.
"Who says we're giving up?" Tony asked.
"We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions. This document just shifts the blame." Steve answered.
"I'm sorry, Steve. That is dangerously arrogant. This is the United Nations we're talking about. It's not the world security council, it's not Shield it's not Hydra." Rhodey said.
"No, but it's run by people with agendas, and agendas change." Steve interrupted.
"That's good. That's why I'm here. When I realized what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands I shut it down and stopped manufacturing." Tony said angrily.
"Tony you chose to do that. If we sign this we surrender our right to choose. What if this 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 yeh safest hands are still our own." Steve said turning to tony.
"If we don't do this now, it's gonna be done to us later." Tony said calmer now. "That's a fact. That won't be pretty."
"Are you saying they'll come for Lizzy and I?" Wanda asked. I turned to look at her as she had read my fear. I then looked away and averted my eyes from everyone hiding the fear in my eyes.
"We would protect you both." Vision said, making Wanda look at him.
"Maybe Tony's right. If we have one hand on the wheel we can still steer. If we take it off..." Natasha said reluctantly.
"Aren't you the same woman who told the Government to kiss her ass a few years ago?" Sam asked now.
"I'm just reading the terrain." She replied. "We have made some public mistakes. We need to win their trust back."
"Focus up. I'm sorry, did I just mishear you, or did you agree with me?" Tony said.
"Oh I want to take it back now." Natasha said.
"No no no you can't retract it. Okay case closed I win." Tony said. I know looked at them and then looked at Steve to see his reaction but he only looked at his phone now, sorrow washed over him.
"I have to go." He said before standing up and leaving. Everyone watched as he left the room.
"I'll uh, I'll go check on him." I said before standing up. I left the room and walked down the stairs when I saw him covering his face. I slowly walked up to him. "Steve? What is wrong?" I said quietly. He sniffed before looking at me his eyes red and puffy, though he had a smile on his face all I could see was pain.
"I- uh it's someone very close to me... they passed away." He said barely getting his words out. I didn't ask more not wanting to bring it up, because I knew that having to talk about someone you love who has died was very hard and painful. I walked closer and wrapped my arms around him, he then returned the hug. He had always been there for me when I was in pain about Pietro, he was like a brother to me as well, but in no way was he Pietro, but either way he helped me feel better, he helped me cope with the loss, so I wanted to try my best to return the favor.
"I'm so sorry." I whispered, as we separated. He smiled and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Can you promise me something Liz?" He asked.
"Yes, of courses." I said.
"Don't let them change you, don't let them take you and your sister, okay?" He said.
"I promise." I said, and I meant it.
"Now, I have to go, but I'll see you soon okay?" He said.
"Okay." I said, making him give me a smile. Then he walked away.