Becoming Torn (4) >>>>Steve Rogers

4- Dealing

Tony looks at all of us as we stare at the picture of the young boy. "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 behind 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 do. 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" he says to all of us and a sullen look forms on our faces.
"He wanted to make a difference, I suppose. I mean, we won't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kicking ass" he says. "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" he goes on to say.

"Tony, someone dies on your watch, you don't give up" Steve says looking at Tony.
"Who said we're giving up?" Tony asks.
"We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions. This document just shifts blame" Steve tells him.
"I'm sorry Steve, it's not the World Security Council, it's not SHIELD, it's not HYDRA." Rhodey chimes in saying.
"No but it's run by people with agendas and agendas change" Steve says and I place a hand on his shoulder and squeeze.

"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 stop manufacturing" Tony tells Steve.
"Tony, you choose to do that. If we sign this, we surrender our right to choose" Steve tells him sternly.
I look between both men, and focus on Tony, "what if this panel sends us somewhere we don't think we should go? What if there is somewhere we need to go, and they don't let us? What if they try and control mine or Wanda's powers? We may not be perfect , but the safest hands are still our own" I say defending Steve's point about the Accords.
"If we don't do this now, it's gonna be done to us later. That's the fact. That won't be pretty" Tony tries to warn us.
"You're saying they'll come for me?" Wanda says scared.
"We would protect you" Vision assures her.

"Maybe Tony's right" Natasha suddenly says and Tony and I both look at her surprised.
She looks straight at me and Steve, "If we have one hand on the wheel, we can still steer. If we take it off"
"Aren't you the same women who told the government to kiss her ass a few years ago" Sam interrupts her.
"I'm just..I'm reading the terrain. We have made..some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back" she says to him.
Tony then leans on the edge of the chaise she sits on, "focus up. I'm sorry, did I mishear you or did you agree with me"
"Oh, I want it back now" She coolly smiles at him.
"No, no, no. You can't retract it. Thank you..unprecedented. Okay, case closed. I win" Tony remarks at her.

Just then I hear Steve's phone vibrate, he takes it out looking at it, She's gone. In her sleep. I see it say and I immediately know.
"I have to go" He says and he puts the Accords document on the table and walks away. I get up and go to find where he went to. I find him sitting at the bottoms of the staircase his head bowed down in his hands. I slowly descend the stairs and sit down beside him, putting an arm around his waist and pull him close to me. He rests his head on my shoulder, "I know" I say to him.

I don't know how long we sit there, but I know Steve will need his time.
"I'll have to go to London" he suddenly says.
"I know" I say as he moves away and stands up and I do the same.
"I love you Steve, and I understand your hurting, I'll give you as much space as you need" I tell him as I walk away from him.
"Cassandra, I need you to come with me please" he calls out making me stop.
"Are you sure, I know she meant the world to you and I don't want to intrude" I tell him.
"You mean just as much to me Cassandra" he says as he comes closer to me.
"I know Steve and you mean the world to me too. I can only imagine how it would feel if I ever lost you" I say as I take his hand in mine.
"I love you Cassandra" he says and I pull him close holding him.
"I will always be by your side Steve" I say.
"And I yours" he says back to me.

I could see the loss on Steve's face as he helps carry Peggy's coffin. I sit between Steve and Sam who came along with us.
"And now I would like to invite Sharon Carter to come up and say a few words" the priest says. I look and watch as Sharon comes up to the podium and I nudge Steve as he looks up, surprise on his face at seeing that it was Agent 13.
"Margaret Carter was known to most as a founder of SHIELD.. but I just knew her as Aunt Peggy." Sharon looks around and then continues, "she had a photograph in her office. Aunt Peggy standing next to JFK. As a kid, that was pretty cool. But it was a lot to live up to. Which is why I never told anyone we were related" Sharon then locks eyes with Steve before continuing, "I asked her once how she managed to master diplomacy and espionage in a time when no one wanted to see a women succeed at either."

"And she said, compromise where you can. But where you can't. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move.. it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in eye and say, 'No, you move'"