Saving the Multiverse | Avengers, DCEU & Arrowverse Crossover

ii. Chapter 21: "I have to go,"

June 19th, 2016

AVENGERS COMPOUND Upstate New York

"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor, which is one more than you have," Rhodey argues with Sam,

Tony sat, reclined in a chair, a hand on his face, trying to tune out his best friends bickering,,

"So let's say we agree with this thing. How long is it gonna be before they LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals?" Sam argues

"117 countries want to sign this. 117, Sam, and you're just like, 'No, that's cool. We got it', " Rhodey says.

"How long are you going to play both sides?" Sam asks.

"I have an equation," Vision intervenes.

"Oh, this will clear it up," Sam remarks.

"In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man, the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially. And during the same period, the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate," Vision proclaims,

"Are you saying it's our fault?" Steve questions.

"I'm saying there may be a causality. Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict... breeds catastrophe. Oversight... Oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand," Vision tells them.

Rhodey lets out a "Boom," and Sam turns to glare at him.

"Tony. You are uncharacteristically non-hyperverbal," Natasha observes,

"It's because he's already made up his mind," Steve speaks up.

"Boy, you know me so well." Tony groans sitting up, placing a hand to the back of his head," actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache," He corrects himself. He continues, "That's what's going on, Cap. It's just pain. It's discomfort, " Tony pauses, peering down into the sink, "Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal? Am I running bed and breakfast for a biker gang?" Tony questions sarcastically.

Tony puts his phone into a bread basket using it as a stand, he taps the screen and a projected picture of a young boy comes up, "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. Which is what you should and will 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, that's where,"

He looks at every single one of the Avenger's struck faces before continuing, "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,"

Tony pauses,"-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, someone dies on your watch, you don't give up," Steve states.

"Who said we're giving up?" Tony questioned.

"We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions. This document just shifts the blames," Steve exclaims,

"I'm sorry. Steve. That - 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 chimed in.

"No, but it's run by people with agendas, and agendas change." Steve defends.

"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 them," Tony tells them all

"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 is somewhere we need to go, and they don't let us? We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own." Steve proclaims.

"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 pointed out.

"You're saying they'll come for me?" Wanda questioned.

"We would protect you," Vision told her.

"Maybe Tony's right," Nat says, and Tony looks at the red-head in surprise.

"If we have one hand on the wheel, we can still steer. If we take it off -"

"Aren't you the same woman who told the government to kiss her ass a few years ago?" Sam asks, cutting Natasha off.

"I'm just... I'm reading the terrain. We have made... some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back." Nat defends.

"Focus up. I'm sorry, did I just mishear you, or did you agree with me?" Tony asked, still in shock.

"Oh, I want to take it back now," Nat starts.

"No, no, no. You can't retract it. Thank you. Unprecedented. Okay, case closed - I win." Tony said quickly. Steve's phone buzzed, and he pulled it out to check it.

   He reads the text message, 'She's gone. In her sleep.' it may be a very vague text, but he knew what it meant.

"I have to go," He excuses himself. Wanda holds in her gasp, after reading Steve's thoughts.

✪

Steve stopped at the bottom of the stairs, his head falling into his hands, "I'm sorry Steve," Steve looks up to see Wanda, "How am I going to tell her? I don't even know where she is,"

"I have her number...I can tell her," She says placing a hand on his shoulder,

"Thank you," Steve replies, too filled in his grief to question what Wanda just said,