𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐒, captain america: civil war [2] ✓

03

𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬

Pietro and Ava sat in their living room, a piece of Stark technology laying in the middle of the room, projecting the Avengers joined by the Secretary of State.

It had been a bad experience so far — the machine had failed to start up for the first six minutes, then the duo had to figure out how to begin the call and finally, they had to watch the Secretary look down on their family... they had been saving people! Sure, things went a bit wrong, but what if the group weren't in Lagos?

Without Wanda, hundreds more people would've died.

"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 thirteen hours of surgery and a triple bypass... I found something forty years in the army had never taught me; perspective." Secretary Ross told the group of heroes, who stared up at him in confusion.

"The world owes the Avengers an in-payable debt. You have fought for us, protected us, risked your lives for us... but while a great many people see you as heroes, there are some who would prefer the word 'vigilantes.'"

Ava saw Pietro's jaw tense as he was angered, his blue eyes revealing his burning anger at the Secretary — at the world.

Natasha Romanoff looked up from the table, staring at the man. "And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" She asked him, one of her perfectly shaped eyebrows raising at him in question.

"How about 'dangerous?'" He shot back, Ava's eyes hardening at his words. "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?" He continued — he pressed a button on a remote, footage showing up.

"New York." He stated, the screen showing Chitauri monsters, screaming civilians and an angry Bruce Banner turned green.

"Washington DC." He carried on, changing to newer footage of three Helicarriers firing at eachother, a giant wave rising and falling over scared civilians and the camera.

"Sokovia." Ava looked up from her lap, where her hands lay, fingers twiddling together. The footage showed the city floating upwards, and then screaming citizens, before showing an entire building toppling over. A picture was revealed of a very much dead Pietro Maximoff, and the ginger girl stood over him with white glowing eyes — her breath hitched.

Ava felt Pietro taking hold of her small hand, her cold skin warming up from his touch.

"Lagos." The duo watched Wanda as her expression fell further — she was devastated. The screen revealed a building burning, paramedics wheeling the injured away... a dead girl.

"Okay," Steve intervened, already knowing how the incident had upset Wanda, "that's enough."

In response, Ross nodded to an assistant to the side of the room, the images disappearing from the screen — though they were imprinted on the back of the Avengers' eyelids.

"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." The Secretary offered, the assistant from earlier passing him a thick document which he dropped onto the table in front of the team.

"The Sokovia Accords." He elaborated, Rhodey grabbing the folder when Wanda passed it to him. "Approved by 117 countries... it states that the Avengers will no longer be a private organisation. Instead," he continued, Ava's eyebrows creasing. "they'll operate under the supervision of a United Nations panel. Only when and if that panel deems it necessary."

The Secretary's eyes skimmed over the Avengers with a scrutinising face, which had begun to anger Ava.

"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that." Steve commented, to which the Secretary quickly responded.

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued. "If I misplaced a couple of thirty megaton nukes, you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise... reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me... this is middle ground."

Pietro interrupted before anybody else could speak. "I'm sorry,  were you saying that Thor and Bruce are weapons? Not living beings? You act like we are toys! For you to play with and create your ideal world." The Secretary's eyes narrowed on the blue holographic Pietro.

"The only ones with toys here, is that child." He countered, which made Ava glare over at him.

"Excuse me! I am more than a child. You are saying I am to... to be controlled by these panels! You sound just like HYDRA." Ava told him angrily, blue eyes narrowed in anger as her fists clenched and her jaw tensed up.

He dismissed her with a glare, his eyes once again moving over the team. Through the tension, Rhodey spoke, "So, there are contingencies?"

"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the accords." Steve glanced at an extremely quiet Tony as Ross continued. "Talk it over."

"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" Natasha asked daringly, her eyebrow raising once more.

"Then you retire." Her smile stiffens slightly, as does her whole body, but she's quick to hide it. Ava huffed angrily before she left the room — the hologram the others saw just showed Pietro looking towards the direction she left, concern on his features.

●

Meanwhile, in a place that seemed so disconnected form the group, a man named Helmut Zemo was completing his long plan — the Avengers' destruction.

And even though they fought it... he would succeed. As he said, a man with experience and patience could do anything.

And it was all because of a red book.

author's note!—
so I'm not completely happy with this, but people have been asking for an update... so here it is!

I'm excited to show you guys more of Ava's abilities in newer chapters.

hope you've all had a fabulous day & you liked this chapter.