Flame

Chapter 26

After the run in with the lady at the elevator, I was hoping just to come home and have a bath and wait for Steve and the team to return from their mission. However, instead their mission went horribly wrong resulting in me and Tony meeting with the Secretary of State and bringing him to the compound.

"Five years ago, I had a heart attack. I dropped right in the middle of my backswing. Turned out it was the best round of my life, because after 13 hours of surgery and a triple bypass... I found something 40 years in the Army had never taught me: Perspective. The world owes the Avengers an unpayable debt. You have fought for us, protected us, risked your lives... but while a great many people see you as heroes, there are some... who would prefer the word "vigilantes"." Secretary Ross says to us all as we sit around the table

"And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" I ask him being polite as I smooth out my dress 

"How about "dangerous"? What would you call a group of US-based, enhanced individuals who routinely ignore sovereign borders and inflict their will wherever they choose and who, frankly, seem unconcerned about what they leave behind?"Secretary Ross asks as the screen behind him turns to past news footage of all of us

" New York." Secretary Ross says as a Chitauri leviathan is on the screen with Hulk smashing into a building and sends a dust cloud over the came

"Washington DC." Secretary Ross sash as a helicarrier crashes into the Potomac.

"Sokovia." Ross says as citizens run through the rising city screaming with robots flying around

"Lagos." Ross says as there's a burning building with paramedics moving a dead body

"Okay. That's enough." Steve speaks up seeing how uncomfortable we all are

"For the past four years, you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution." Ross says as he gives Wanda a book who just gives it to Rhodey, not wanting to look at it "The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 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." Ross explains as I flick through the book before handing it too Nat

"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that." Steve tells him not wanting to look at the book

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Ross asks him and he doesn't reply "If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes... you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground." Ross continues to explain

"So, there are contingencies." Rhodey says

"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords." Ross tells us as I glance over at Tony

"Talk it over." Ross says

"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" I ask him as I cross my arms

"Then you retire." Ross says before leaving, and we all sit their in silence

Now that Secretary Ross has left we are sitting in the lounge just discussing what we're going to do which so far isn't going to well as everyone just seems to be arguing about what to do.

"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor, which is one more than you have." Rhodey says to Sam

"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 retorts not happy with the accords