The Devil With The Face of an Angel | Irondad, pepperony

Chapter 26

Tony paced restlessly around the workshop. A few days had passed since an unknown woman spoke to him when he had dinner with Pepper and accused him of having her's son blood on his hands. Maybe it was not an accusation. Maybe it was a cruel, ruthless truth that Tony didn't want to see. Maybe Ross was right after all. It has been one mission after another lately, and the number of dead has grown. No one looked at whether they were innocent or not.

Tony looked down at his palms as if he really had visible blood on them. He clenched his fists. He knew very well what it was to be afraid of his loved ones. About friends, family. Tony had no idea what he would do if he lost Pepper and Peter. He would go crazy. He would have wanted revenge. He would like to find and kill those who took away the most precious thing he had.

He gasped and held onto the desk. Calm down, he exhorted himself, clinging to the wooden corner of the table and breathing deeply. He couldn't imagine a life without Pepper and Peter. How could Avengers do that?

Oh, God. What did they do? How could they do that?

"Are you all right, sir? Do you want me to call Miss Potts?" Friday's robotic voice said, and Tony winced. He stayed in the same position for a moment, trying to calm the frantic pounding heart before he slowly straightened.

"No need, Friday," he said, then closed his eyes for a moment. "Connect me with Ross, please," he added quickly before he could change his mind. No, he wouldn't change his mind. He must tell others. He must explain it to them. They will surely understand.

"As you wish, sir."

For a moment there was only a low beep, which was replaced by Ross's voice. "Stark! That's a nice surprise to me," he said instead of greeting, and Tony could clearly hear a pleased grin in his voice. Tony never called him. Ross had already understood what Stark wanted to tell him. "What would you like?"

"You know what I want," Tony said, trying to suppress a biting undertone. He hated this guy so much! But he had no choice. "I agree with your suggestion you introduced to me at our last meeting."

Ross laughed. "It wasn't quite a proposal we could democratically discuss, Stark. You wouldn't have a choice anyway. However, I'm glad that you look at it the way I do, and you don't live on a pink fluffy cloud of naivety. Your words have great weight with the Avengers. Make sure that they at least respect UN decisions. I don't want any problems, and I'm sure you neither, Stark."

"No, secretary," Tony snapped this time.

"I'll meet you soon. Even with the rest of the team. No more trouble, Anthony," he warned, then hung up without saying goodbye. Tony slumped in his chair and ran his hands into his hair. Steve was the leader of their team. And his good friend, too. He hoped he wouldn't have too much of a problem, because otherwise...

Tony didn't know.

•••

"The world owes the Avengers an unpayable debt," Ross began when he met the team after a few days, as he promised to Tony. "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."

"And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" Natasha had to ask.

"How about dangerous?" he grinned. "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?" On the hologram behind him, a map of marked places appeared. "New York," he said, and the footage of the battle with Loki and his army began to be projected. "Washington DC. Sokovia. Lagos." A collapsing city, scared people. Lots of debris that buried dead bodies.

"Okay. That's enough," said Captain America frowning. Tony had no courage to look at him.

"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." He passed Sokovia Accords to Wanda. "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," he said, walking slowly around the table. None of those present looked at him.

"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that," said the Captain again, staring sharply at Ross.

Ross grinned at him. "Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now? If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes... you can bet there'd be consequences," he said coldly, turning his back on him. "Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."

"So, there are contingencies," Rhodey made it clear.

"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords. Talk it over."

Steve looked at Tony in disbelief, and he just looked down.

"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" Natasha asked slowly.

"Then you retire," Ross answered simply. "I think you have something to think about. Decide wisely," he said, giving them a sneer and then leaving, leaving behind the Avengers, whose hearts sowed at least a small seed of doubt.