FIREFLY || Pietro Maximoff

3.4

Edited 18/11/2024

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"If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes..." the man continued "...you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground"

"But they aren't nukes, these are living people" Olivia said but was ignored.

"So, there are contingencies" James Rhodes said shortly.

"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords..." Steve glances at Tony "...talk it over"

Natasha spoke up for the first time in the day to snap a comeback at the man.

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

"Then you retire.

Natasha stifles a smirk as his gaze crossed with Olivia's, both of them already knowing what would happen if they tried to...'retire' them.

Ж

CLEVELAND

The Avengers are gathered at HQ with Steve is sitting, studying the Accords, while Rhodey and Sam argue behind him.

Olivia was there and Wanda and Pietro had been told to stay in their own rooms but had joined either way, sitting on both sides of the couch Olivia was sat down.

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

"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?" Sam protested.

"117 countries want to sign this. 117, Sam, and you're just like, 'No, that's cool. We got it'" Olivia glared at the man.

"How long are you going to play both sides?" she and Sam Wilson asked the man.

"I have an equation" Vision said as he stepped forward.

"Oh, this will clear it up" Sam shook his head and turned to the man in the cape.

"In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man, the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially. And during the same period, the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate"

"Are you saying it's our fault?" Steve Rogers asked as he leaned against the shelf.

"I'm saying there may be a causality. Our very strength invites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict...breeds catastrophe. Oversight...oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand" Vision said.

"Boom" Rhodney responded.

"Boom? Boom what Rhodney?" Olivia brought their attention to her "Even if Stark hadn't come out as Iron Man, the whole chitauri thing would have happened due to Loki finding his way here. Hydra would have kept doing their experiments and making even worse things with time without Cap and the rest...I think you have left out a few factors out of your equation" she finished.

"Boom" Sam sassed back to the other man.

Tony was lying on the couch when Natasha spoke up, he looks up at her as her eyes turned to him.

"Tony. You are being uncharacteristically non-hyper-verbal" she asked him with her eyebrow raised.

"It's because he's already made up his mind" Steve sighed out.