Caught In The Widow's Web

Ch 30

The Secretary of State, Thaddeus Ross stood before us at the end of the table while Rhodey, Natasha, Steve, Tony, Sam, Vision, Wanda, and I were gathered around. An impromptu meeting taking place.

"Five years ago, I had a heart attack. I dropped right in the middle of my back swing. Turned out it was the best round of my life, because after 13 hours of surgery and a triple bypass...I found something 40 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. Some can't get past the fact to see one of you as a, word they prefer to use...vigilante." Ross speaks and side eyes me at the end.

Subtle. Real subtle.

"And what word would you use, Mr.Secretary?" Natasha asks him.

"How about dangerous? What would you call a US based super soldier who routinely ignores sovereign borders and inflicts their will wherever they choose and who, frankly, seeming unconcerned about what they leave behind?" He questions as he turns slightly to turn on the screen behind him.

The footage shows past assignments and of course, all the footage focused on me. Each one more violent than the last, the scenes messier as they progress.

When they show the one from my exchange with Rumlow earlier my right hand turns into a fist, knuckles popping as my jaw clenches.

Steve takes notice of this.

"Alright that's enough." Steve speaks up and Ross turns off the screen.

"This doesn't look good." Ross then says looking directly at me now.

"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know I was on a show called Keeping Up With The Avengers." I scoff breaking my silence.

"Ar-are you cracking a joke right now, Sergeant?" Ross asks me in disbelief.

"Were the jobs done or not?" I ask dully.

"That isn't the point. The point is that for the past 4 years, you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision. And actually lead the Avengers in assignments. That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution." He says as he places a thick packet on the table.

"Your new contract." He starts, making me raise an eyebrow.

"Approved by 117 countries. It states that Sergeant Brawns no longer operates privately. Instead you'll operate under the supervision of a United Nations panel, only when and if the panel deems it necessary. Ultimately it's a retirement plan. You'll be called when it's absolutely necessary." He continues and I furrow my eyebrows in disbelief.

"She is one of the founding members of the Avengers. What if we need her? What're we gonna do? Ask permission? File paperwork for permission? By then the threat could get out of our control." Steve speaks in my defense.

"Having one less super soldier won't affect the team that bad." Ross says making my jaw clench slightly.

"The whole team isn't even here." I scoff.

"Tell me, Sergeant. Do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" He asks and I clench my jaw harder turning away.

"The team is to sign it as well. If you won't sign it willingly, you will be overruled and your services won't be necessary either way." He says and I shake my head.