Angel - (Fem reader X Bucky Barnes)

Chapter 16 - Accords

I really didn't want to be in this meeting....everyone looked upset.

"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 years in the Army had never taught me: Perspective. The world owes the Avengers an un-payable debt. 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?" Nat asks.

"How about dangerous? 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?" Ross activates a screen behind him. "New York." We see a Chitauri leviathan. Terrified citizens. A soldier firing a gun. The Hulk smashes into a building and sends a dust cloud to engulf the camera. Rhodey looks regretful. He glances behind him at Nat.

"Washington DC." We see the three Insight helicarriers, firing on each other. The destroyed Triskelion. A helicarrier crashing into the Potomac and throwing up a massive wave, engulfing citizens and the camera. Sam looks down.

"Sokovia." We then see terrified citizens, running. The city rising. A building falling over. Wanda stares at the screen, I put my hand over my mouth.

"Lagos." We finally see The burning building. Paramedics moving a body. A dead girl.

Wanda is particularly affected by the footage from Lagos. Steve sees this and intervenes. "Okay. That's enough."

Secretary Ross nods to an aide and the images disappear.
"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 places a thick document on the desk and passes it to Wanda. An aide hands him a thick book, which Ross slides across the table to Wanda. She picks it up, then slides it to Rhodey. "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."

"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that." Steve nods.

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Steve looks up and meets Ross's eyes. "If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes....you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."

"So, there are contingencies." Rhodey nods.

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

"And if we come to a decision you don't like?" Nat asks.

"Then you retire."

We all sit together, Steve was in a chair reading the document, I sit on the arm of his chair and read it with him, Sam and Rhodey arguing behind us.

"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor, which is one more than you have." Rhodey says.

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

"A 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?"