Where your loyalties lie (Two New Bartons book 2) (completed)

The Sokovia Accords - Wanda

Half an hour later, we're all sitting in the living room.  Cap's reading through the Accords, Stark is sitting in a seat, rolling his eyes a lot, and Nat's watching him. Sam and Rhodey are arguing about the Accords. So far, all I know is that Sam's against, Rhodey's for. I don't know about anyone else. I don't know what to think.

On the one hand, I think they might be a good idea. After what happened in Lagos, I'm not so sure we should have the free rein we enjoyed before. And, it's like Rhodey said, 117 countries want us to sign. I don't want to be a criminal again.

On the other hand, I don't trust the government, America's or any other country's. I never have. And, like Cap said earlier, sometimes people die, and we have to learn to live with that. It's almost like he knew this was coming.

Vis gives an explanation that our strength invites challenger, which, eventually leads to catastrophe ("Oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand."). He's for. Stark gives the story of one Charles Spencer, a boy who died in Sokovia while we were fighting Ultron ("We need to be put in check!"). For. Cap talks about not giving up when someone dies on your watch, about the need for us to be able to choose, about how agendas change ("We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own.") Against.

Finally, Stark says, "If we don't do this now, it's gonna be done to us later. That's the fact. That won't be pretty."

I can't stay quiet anymore, because I know what he means by that. "You're saying they'll come for me."

"We would protect you," Vis says, and I turn to look at him. 

It's hard to tear my eyes away, but I manage it when Nat says, "Maybe Tony's right."

Did she really just say that?! I never thought those words would come out of her mouth. 

She goes on, "If we have one hand on the wheel, we can still steer."

Everyone else is just as incredulous as me. Sam leans forward. "Aren't you the same woman who told the government to kiss her ass a few years ago?"

Nat looks like she wants to defend herself. "I'm just reading the terrain. We have made some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back." So she's for.

Stark still can't quite believe it. "Focus up, I'm sorry, did I just mishear you, or did you agree with me."

"Oh, I'm gonna take it back now."

"No, no. You can't retract it. Thank you."

For just a second, with the easy banter between them, it feels like normal times again. No Accords tearing us apart. No split views. Just one messed up family, brought together by trauma and pain. 

I suddenly notice a new emotion in the mix, one I can't pinpoint or quite identify. Is it... dread? I look around, trying to locate its source. Then I find it, just as it changes again. Cap is looking down at her phone.

"I have to go," he says, before getting to his feet and leaving the room.

All the others stare after him, confused, no doubt wondering where he's going. But I know. I know where he goes when he vanishes for whole afternoons at a time. I know who he goes to see. And I know who he won't be seeing anymore. Peggy Carter. 

My mind follows his sadness all the way out of the room and down the stairs. I can't leave him to deal with this alone. He didn't leave me. I won't abandon him now. I get up and follow after him. I can feel Vis and the others' eyes on me, but I don't acknowledge them. 

Just as I reach the door, I feel a hand grab my arm and Sam's voice say, "Leave him. He needs time to deal with it." 

I know he's the only other person who knows about Peggy. Cap didn't even tell Nat. 

I shake my head. "No one should have to go through this alone."

Not like Pietro and I had to after losing our parents. Thrust aside, forced into the foster system, ignored, left alone. At least we had each other. Cap doesn't have anyone. 

I pull my arm out of Sam's grip and walk down the stairs. Cap doesn't notice me until I'm right next to him. 

"Did you miss her?" I ask quietly, "When you unfroze?"

Cap looks down at me for a second - he's so tall, I almost have to crane my neck to look him in the eye - then says, "At first. Then, a couple of months later, just after New York, Fury told me she was still alive." He shakes his head. "She didn't even recognize me at first. Just stared blankly. When she finally realized who I was, she kept forgetting."

I don't know what to say to that, so I just take his hand and squeeze it gently. 

Word count: 838