Out Of Time

hundred nine

Tony sat in the corner of the facility's conference room, away from everyone else. Secretary Ross stood in the front next to the monitor. Steve, Rhodey, and Natasha were seated at the table on the side closest to Tony. Sam, Vision, and Wanda were seated on the other side. Y/N was sat down at the end of the table, opposite Ross.

"Five years ago, I had a heart attack. I dropped right in the middle of my backswing. 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," Secretary Ross stated. "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, there are some... who would prefer the word 'vigilantes'."

"And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" Natasha cut in, snarkily.

"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?" Secretary Ross activated the monitor behind him. It started playing news reels from past Avengers and SHIELD matters. "New York." A clip of the Chitauri invasion played out. "Washington DC." When SHIELD fell.

"Sokovia." Ultron. "Lagos." The team's most recent mission.

"Okay," Steve said, noticing Wanda's uncomfortableness. "That's enough."

Ross turned off the screen before continuing. "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 threw a thick book on the table. "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 Accords will also require anyone who is enhanced to be put on a registry."

"Like me and Y/N?" Wanda wondered. Y/N glanced at Tony, who refused to look her way, as Wanda continued. "We'd be put on a list so that you can watch our every move? Maybe even experiment on us?"

"We wouldn't experiment on anyone."

"Why?" Y/N questioned. "Is it cause you already are?"

"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place," Steve stated, trying to change the topic. "I feel we've done that."

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Steve merely looked at Ross, unable to answer the question. For all they knew, Thor was on Asgard and no one had seen or heard from Bruce since Sokovia, a year ago. "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 spoke up.

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

Steve and Tony briefly made eye contact,Tony quickly looking back down. Y/N noticed. That floor must be really interesting, interesting enough for a man who never shuts up to stop talking.

"Talk it over," Ross continued.

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

"Then you retire." Ross answered. Everyone kinda glanced at each other. "Let me know what you guys decide." And with that, Ross left.

~~~

They moved to one of the common area's of the facility. Rhodey and Sam were going at each other about the Accords while Steve flipped through them and everyone else listened.