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𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐫

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A month since the Lagos incident. The Secretary of State, Thaddeus Ross, is standing at the head of a table. Rhodey, Natasha, Steve, Tony, Sam, Vision, Mila and Wanda are gathered around. Ross has summoned the Avengers to a meeting, regarding Lagos.

"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'."  Mila prickles at the word.

"And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" "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?" The word dangerous seems targeted at both Mila and Wanda.

Ross activates a screen behind him. News footage from past Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D matters flash on the screen as he speaks.

"New York." A Chitauri leviathan. Terrified citizens screaming and running away. A soldier firing a gun. The Hulk smashes into a building and sends a dust cloud to engulf the camera, most likely killing the owner of the footage. Mila feels guilty even though she knows she didn't have any part in that.

"Washington DC." 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 once again killing the owner. More guilt.

"Sokovia." Mila looks down at this. Terrified citizens, are running. The city rising. A building falling over, slipping through Mila's grasp. Mountains of guilt.

"Lagos." The burning building flashes on screen. 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 from in front of them. Mila can still see it though, replaying in her mind. "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 slides it to Wanda first. She picks it up, then slides it to Rhodey who passes it to Mila.

The Sokovia Accords.

"The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 countries . . . it states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organisation. Instead, they'll operate under the supervision of a United Nations panel, only when and if that panel deems it necessary." Steve clearly doesn't agree. "The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place. I feel we've done that."

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Steve looks up and meets Ross's eyes. No response. "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 asks. "Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords. Talk it over."

Natasha speaks up. "And if we come to a decision you don't like?" "Then you retire." Natasha stifles a smile. Mila finds this far from amusing.

Natasha may think she is untouchable but Mila knows she's not.

»»————-　★　————-««

The Avengers are gathered at HQ. Mila sits on the edge of a chair her head in hands while Sam and Rhodey fight behind Steve. "Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor, which is one more than you have." "So let's say we agree to this thing. How long is it gonna be before they Lo-Jack us like a bunch of common criminals?" Sam brings up a good point. "A 117 countries want to sign this. 117, Sam, and you're just like, 'No, that's cool. We got it.'" Rhodey argues.

"Please shut up." Mila whispers to herself.

"How long are you going to play both sides?" "I have an equation." Vision interrupts from his spot beside Wanda. "Oh, this will clear it up." he says sarcastically.

"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 accuses.

"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." he finishes.

"Boom." "Not a boom moment." Mila quips at Rhodes.

Tony is lying on the couch holding his head with one hand. When Natasha speaks up, he turns to look at her. "Tony. You are being uncharacteristically non-hyper-verbal." "It's because he's already made up his mind." Cap speaks for him. "Boy, you know me so well." He gets up and winces, rubbing the back of his head.

"Actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache." He continues as he walks to the kitchen and grabs a mug. "That's what's going on, Cap. It's just pain. It's discomfort. Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal? Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?" He puts his phone in a basket and taps it.The phone projects an image of a smiling young man. He looks down, then back up, and pretends to notice the picture for the first time. Here we go.

"Oh, that's Charles Spencer, by the way. He's a great kid. Computer engineering degree, 3.6 GPA. Had a floor level gig at Intel planned for the fall. But first, he wanted to put a few miles on his soul, before he parked it behind a desk. See the world. Maybe be of service. Charlie didn't want to go to Vegas or Fort Lauderdale, which is what I would do. He didn't go to Paris or Amsterdam, which sounds fun. He decided to spend his summer building sustainable housing for the poor. Guess where, Sokovia." Mila knew where this was going. "He wanted to make a difference, I suppose. I mean, we won't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kicking ass. There's no decision-making process here. We need to be put in check! Whatever form that takes, I'm game. If we can't accept limitations, if we're boundary-less, we're no better than the bad guys." Tony finishes his rant.

Mila is avoiding eye contact fully now. Steve can feel the discomfort rolling off of her in waves. She thinks it's her fault. "Tony, someone dies on your watch, you don't give up." "Who said we're giving up?" Tony questions Steve. "We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions. This document just shifts the blames." Rhodey scoffs. "I'm sorry. Steve. That - that is dangerously arrogant. This is the United Nations we're talking about. It's not the World Security Council, it's not S.H.I.E.L.D, it's not H.Y.D.R.A." Steve argues back, "No, but it's run by people with agendas, and agendas change." "That's good. That's why I'm here. When I realised what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands, I shut it down and stop manufacturing." Mila shifted in her seat. She wished she could leave.

"Tony, you chose to do that. If we sign this, we surrender our right to choose. What if this panel sends us somewhere we don't think we should go? What if there is somewhere we need to go, and they don't let us? We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own."

"If we don't do this now, it's gonna be done to us later. That's the fact. That won't be pretty."  "You're saying they'll come for me or Mila." she looked up at the sound of her name. "We would protect you." "Maybe Tony's right." Mila looks at Natasha oddly, since when did she ever agree with Stark?

"If we have one hand on the wheel, we can still steer. If we take it off-" "Aren't you the same woman who told the government to kiss her ass a few years ago?" Sam questions clearly confused by her quick decision to side with Tony. "I'm just . . . I'm reading the terrain. We have made . . . some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back." "Focus up. I'm sorry, did I just mishear you or did you agree with me?" Tony is turning this into a game, a joke.

"Oh, I want to take it back now." "No, no, no. You can't retract it. Thank you. Unprecedented. Okay, case closed--I win." Mila rolls her eyes standing to leave.

Steve's phone buzzes, and he pulls it out to check it. "I have to go." Steve gets up sharply, drops the Accords on the coffee table, and goes out the door to the stairwell. Mila follows him quickly, she turns the corner to see him leaning against the banister, his head bowed.

"Steve?" she calls softly as she approaches him. He isn't making any noise but Mila can see his shoulders shaking. She runs forward embracing him in a hug. "Hey, are you okay? What's going on?" Steve wraps his arms around her accepting the hug.

"She's gone."

Mila knew what he was talking about. Peggy. He had spoken about her and her health in their late night tell-all sessions. "I'm so sorry," Mila replied, rubbing his back softly in circles. He kept his grip strong as he cried into her shoulder.

»»————-　★　————-««

(A/N)

Peggyy!!! I'm crying I love her :'(

Bucky is coming soon!!!

[Word Count: 1698]