Resilience | S. Rogers [3]

13 | UNVEILED WORLD

May 2018

Avengers Compound, New York

"You know they're only criminals because you've chosen to call them that, right, sir?" Rose caught Rhodey's jab.

"My God, Rhodes, your talent for horseshit rivals my own." Ross, she realised.

"If it weren't for those Accords, Vision would've been right here."

"I remember your signature on those papers, Colonel."

"That's right. And I'm pretty sure I've paid for that."

As the group got closer to the room, Rhodey's leg braces that helped support his body were visible to them.

"You have second thoughts?"

The Colonel turned to look at the people he hadn't seen in almost two years, most of them at least. "Not anymore."

"Mr Secretary," Steve greeted at the hologram which moved towards them.

"You got some nerve. I'll give you that."

Nat, standing at one side of Steve whilst Rose stood on the other, lifted her chin slightly. "You could use some of that right now."

"The world's on fire. And you think, all is forgiven?" Ross questioned, mostly to Steve and Rose.

"I'm not looking for forgiveness," the man answered formally. "And I'm way past asking for permission. Earth just lost her best defender," he remarked, Rose's shoulders straightened ever so lightly. "So we're here to fight. And if you wanna stand in our way..."

"We'll fight you, too," she finished boldly.

Ross' hologram turned to Rhodey. "Arrest them."

"All over it," he replied nonchalantly swiping his hand through the air turning off the image. He faced the group of current criminals. "That's a court-martial," he said to them when they were glancing at his legs. With the atmosphere less awkward around them. "It's great to see you, Rose," he greeted with a pitiful and sad smile.

"Likewise," she mirrored the expression as she gripped his shoulder gently before nodding at him surely, a way of saying that they would find Tony one way or another.

"Cap, nice to see you as well."

Steve shook his hand, "You too, Rhodey."

"Oh my god," another voice came in happily. Beth's figure stepped into the room with a big smile, lines forming around her eyes, resembling Finnegan Turner. "I wasn't quite sure you guys were really coming," she said. It had been so long. She hadn't been able to see them at all, except for Rose, but even that was seldom.

First Bruce showed up after being missing and then she gets notified that they were coming to the compound, she hadn't believed it. Despite the circumstances, she was extremely happy to have them back.