"A lot of times freedom doesn't mean being free. It is not a right, but a choice. Anyone can be free if they want to. Telling someone to be free is taking away their choice to be free. You don't take away decisions."
A story in which Lilly Richards...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Later Lilly, Nat and Tony were seated in an office as Secretary Ross showed up. "I don't suppose you have any idea where they are?" He asked them. "We will. GSG-9's got the borders covered. Recon's flying 24/7. They'll get a hit. We'll handle it," Tony answered him. "You don't get it, Stark. It's not yours to handle. It's clear you can't be objective. I'm putting Special Ops on this." "What happens when the shooting starts? What, do you kill Steve Rogers?" Nat asked him. Lilly looked up and then at Ross. "I would be careful with your next words, Mr. Secretary," Lilly said to him. He chuckled. "Miss Richards, I suppose you haven't signed the accords as well, right?" He asked her with a serious expression. She gulped and looked away.
"If we're provoked. Barnes would've been eliminated in Romania if it wasn't for Rogers. There are dead people who would be alive now. Feel free to check my math," he said. "You can't just kill them!" Lilly said and stood up from her chair. "All due respect, you're not going to solve this with boys in bullets, Ross. You gotta let us bring them in," Tony said and put his hand in front of Lilly. "How would that end any differently from the last time?" Ross asked him. "Because this time, I won't be wearing loafers and a silk shirt. 72 hours, guaranteed." "36 hours. Barnes. Rogers. Wilson." "Thank you, sir," Tony said to him as he watched him leave the room.
Tony rubbed his hand on his chest and slumped, exhaling. "My left arm is numb, is that normal?" He asked them. "They aren't going to kill them, right?" Lilly asked them. "Of course not. We'll bring them here and they'll deal with them," Tony said. Lilly looked away. "36 hours, jeez," he sighed. "We're seriously understaffed," Nat replied. "Oh, yeah. It'd be great if we had a Hulk right about now. Any shot?" "No. You really think he'd be on our side?" "No." "I have an idea." "Me too. Where's yours?" "Downstairs. Where's yours?" Tony smiled slightly at Nat. "What are you guys planning?" Lilly asked them. "You're coming with me, Richards," Nat said and walked out of the office.
——— later ———
"It's just a matter of time. Our satellites are running facial, biometric, and behavioural pattern scans," a man walking behind T'challa and another woman said. "Move, or you will be moved." A woman said to Nat. "As entertaining as that would be..." T'challa said and turned to Lilly. "T'challa, king of Wakanda," he said and stretched his hand to her. Lilly shook it. "I know who you are, your highness."
"You really think you can find him?" Nat asked T'challa. "My resources are considerable." He answered. "Yeah, it took the world 70 years to find Barnes... so you could probably do that in about half the time." "You know where they are." "I know someone who does."
"As entertaining as being with you guys would be, I'm afraid I'll have something else to do," Lilly said and walked away from them.
She knew where to find Steve. She looked at her tracking device. She smiled at herself. "Next time don't take your jacket everywhere."
