"You said Pepper was there when you died."
"Yeah…" Tony wasn't sure where she was going with this.
"She had a suit?"
It clicked. "She did." He scrutinised her. "You want one?"
She shrugged. "Not particularly. I'm thinking more of one just to fly to places so we can stay together. A QuinJet isn't as fast as your suits."
"Hmm. That is something I can do. No weaponry? Nothing like that at all?"
Natasha shook her head. "No." She paused and then amended: "Maybe something small to defend myself with if we get attacked in the air but nothing like yours. At least I'll be able to keep up with you. I wouldn't use it in front of the team unless absolutely necessary."
"Yeah," agreed Tony, "I'm not sure they would take it well if they knew the extent of how much we are working together."
"They'd probably want suits of their own…" Natasha quipped.
"Or try to question you why you are spending so much time with me," noted Tony quietly.
"Using the Accords is a good excuse. I'd rather be in on them than on the outside of them. Steve is stubborn but I think he will come around."
Tony's lips twitched. "He nearly signed before. I offered him a chance to sign… after Bucky was brought in. Steve was offered one last chance to work with the Accords. He refused…" He bit his lips.
"It was because of Wanda… And her being locked in the Compound for her own safety. The words 'weapon of mass destruction' may have entered the equation." Tony said.
Natasha's eyes widened. "You didn't!"
Wincing, Tony stepped away. "I did!"
"Tony!" She was shocked, surprised even. Would have hit him if he hadn't stepped away.
"I know! It was a stupid thing to say but at the time he didn't seem to grasp why Wanda had to be kept in the Compound. He kept saying she was just a kid but she's not. She's in her twenties. And people were vying for her blood! And, to top it all off, she's an illegal immigrant who doesn't have a valid visa to be in this country. The only reason Wanda is in this country is that I am personally vouching for her."
"She doesn't know, does she?" Natasha murmured.
He shook his head. "No. If I do not vouch for her, there is nothing Steve can do to keep her here legally. He can fight the system all he wants. He'll just end up getting himself arrested for obstruction of justice."
"We need to get them to sign the Accords."
"First, we have to make the guarantees that will make it easier for Steve to sign," explained Tony. "His concerns are valid. Best way to beat the system is to work on the inside. Which reminds me, I have a meeting with the UN panel in a few days, I would like you to be there. Two voices from the Avengers are better than one."
"Sure." Natasha glanced at the data-pad in Tony's hands. "Hopefully Zemo will not make his move for a while yet."
"I don't think he will. We've got time to convince the others to sign the Accords before Zemo strikes."
Natasha eyed him wearily. "I hope you're right about that, Stark."
He caught her eyes. "Me too, Nat."
-------------
Thursday 12th May 2016
Tony had sent a message to the other Avengers he was going to see the Accords committee with Natasha the next day and welcomed their feedback on them.
Surprisingly Steve came to Tony's office to talk to him about it.
"I read them. We all did. We sat down and went through the whole document," admitted Steve.
In his hands, he was holding a blue folder.
That surprised Tony. He hadn't expected Steve to do so especially since Steve had not read the full document previously.
The small changes he was currently trying to make were helping.
Tony swivelled in his chair. "And? Please take a seat." He indicated the seat in front of his desk.
Steve sat, placing the folder in front of him and opening it.
Tony could see sheets of pages from the Accords document, photocopied with pieces of it underlined.
"Before any of us sign, we want our concerns addressed. We deserve a chance to have our own say. This folder has everything you need. If things can be sorted or safeguards put in place which addresses our concerns…" Steve hesitated. "It is something we could sign but not as they are now."
Tony nodded, pulling the folder towards him, flicking through the folder, running his eyes over the highlighted sections and the annotations to the side.
"The tracking bracelets I will bring up as well as being indefinitely detained without trial. I will seek clarification on what happens with those countries who have not signed up to the Accords."
"If this legislation does become law there is one other thing which isn't mentioned within the Accords which needs to be debated," said Steve. "I feel very passionate about it."
"Right," answered Tony. "What is it?"
"What if we have to be somewhere where there is a life-threatening threat and we are needed there immediately? What if it is a world-ending situation? We cannot be sitting around waiting for permission."
Tony reached for his data-pad, flipping to his copy of the Accords. "Did you miss page four hundred and sixty-five?" Holding it up, he turned it over to Steve. "It's addressed right there."
Steve took the data-pad, eyes running over the screen. "It's not completely clear, Tony."
"How is it not clear? If there is a world-ending threat we can act on it as long as we head out there we put in the relevant requests to act in that country."
"But what if they refuse?" said Steve.
"If there is a world-ending threat and we are not allowed to enter the country, what then? And it causes untold destruction because we could not act? Are we supposed to let it happen? Will we then be detained indefinitely because of our actions saving the world?" Steve said again.
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"But what if they refuse?" said Steve.
"If there is a world-ending threat and we are not allowed to enter the country, what then? And it causes untold destruction because we could not act? Are we supposed to let it happen? Will we then be detained indefinitely because of our actions saving the world?"
Tony frowned and re-read the passage himself. "Ok, Cap, you have a point. It isn't clear and we do need to clarify." He wondered if that had been Steve's objections to the Accords in the first place. "How do you feel about obeying the Accords when it isn't urgent missions which need acting on straight away?"
Steve frowned, his shoulders tightening.
Tony noticed his physical reaction. "You still do not like it, do you?"
"No…" Steve shook his head. "I just…"
"Want to go where you are needed." Tony could see what Steve was having trouble with.
"Steve, we cannot do what we want in this world all the time. I do not want you to become a criminal. We have to stay together. If we defy the laws at every turn we are no better than the bad guys. Wasn't it helpful we informed the authorities of Rumlow's attack in Lagos? They could discreetly evacuate people and remove highly dangerous materials from being stolen. Just think what could have happened if we hadn't informed them or gained permission? People would have died." Tony said.
"I know," admitted Steve. "But…"
Tony watched carefully, knowing Steve was considering all the facts.
"If we are allowed to act without permission in world-ending or imminent life-threatening threats then I will sign the Accords."
Tony's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You will?" he stammered.
A small inclination of the head gave Tony his answer.
"Are you sure?" He felt he needed to clarify it again. Steve's response was a surprise but a welcome one.
"We discussed it. Friday showed us polls and opinions on the Avengers presently. The people we save want us to not be entirely independent, to be answerable to someone. But these safeguards have to be put in place before I will agree to sign anything."
"Wow."
Steve cricked his head. "You seem surprised?"
He was. He really was. The Steve of his time had been completely adamant against the Accords, not willing to compromise at all.
This Steve…. They're the same, Steve! He reminded himself. "I'm just happy you are willing to compromise. We need the Avengers together, Cap…"
"You keep saying that," mentioned Steve, leaning forward across the desk, hands clasped in front of him. "Why?"
Tony hesitated. Could he say something without giving anything away?
'Yes.' A voice sounded in his mind.
He had permission.
"Something is coming, Cap. I don't know when but something is… And we need to be together to face it. It'll be bigger than anything we've faced before but it will be a lot harder to defend the Earth from this threat if we are not working with the government."
Lowering his gaze, the other man contemplated the new information. "How long have you known?"
Tony shrugged. "Since New York. Steve, we are not prepared for what is out there. We were lucky last time but next time, we might not be so lucky. If we do not stay together we will lose. You said it yourself, last year that we would lose together too. But I'd rather be in the position to defend the Earth from now until then, rather than be operating illegally."
"Would they really stop us if there was a world-ending threat if we didn't sign?"
"Probably not but they'd want us to answer to it afterward."
"Even if we saved the world?" pointed out Steve.
Tony grimaced. He knew Steve and the others had been given leave to return after Thanos. The Accords had been disbanded but it didn't matter now as the Accords were still in play. "The Accords are the only way we stay together, Cap. I can try to change them so it is easier for us but you have to play your part too."
"Why won't you not sign them?" Steve locked his gaze. "You could break the law with us."
Tony's eyebrows rose at Steve's suggestion. "And jeopardize my entire livelihood? They could take away all my money, my business, everything I own. I have a lot of things at stake if I do not sign. By signing, I am able to keep everything, including my suits. I can't let them get access to them, Steve."
"So you've been pushed into signing."
Shaking his head, Tony leaned back in his chair. "No. I made the choice which works best for me and that is to sign. I can't be any help to you if I'm in jail. The Accords are the middle ground the world needs right now. Whether they last or not is another point entirely. Until then we have to stick together. Help me help the world, Steve. We cannot afford to lose." 'Again,' he silently added.
He held out his hand across the table hoping Steve would take it.
Focusing his eyes on Tony's extended hand, Steve slowly reached out and took it. "We have a deal." He pulled his hand. "Make those changes, get clarification on the points we've raised, and we will all sign."
-------------
Friday 13th May 2016
"He agreed to sign?" Natasha leaned back against the wall as they waited for admittance into the chamber where they would discuss the Accords with the committee.
"I know. I'm surprised too." Tony walked slowly up and down the corridor.
He was feeling antsy, wanting to get this meeting underway. "But it does depend on whether we can get the changes made to the Accords. It's the only way we're going to keep the team together. I can't go on the run. I told Steve why I couldn't. I cannot afford to not obey them."
"I think you did the right thing," observed Natasha quietly. "We've both learned from our mistakes. I shouldn't have helped Steve at the airport and allowed them to escape. I knew Steve would keep trying no matter what. Zemo wouldn't have been able to split us further apart if I hadn't helped Steve. But the answer is not splitting. It feels right to be working under the Accords."
"It will be easier to prepare the world this way," said Tony. "Minimise the damage Thanos may make." He glanced up as the doors to the chamber opened and they were beckoned inside.
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