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VALOR
xiv. SOKOVIA ACCORDS

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   THE YEAR IS 2016, and Riley O'Dair was dying. Well, maybe not literally, but as of right now, she might as well have been.

   The 15-year-old's laughter rang throughout the gymnasium at the Avengers Facility. Though her raven hair was pulled into a high ponytail, it swung in her face as she keeled over with a shit-eating grin plastered on her face.

   "I think I'm crying, oh my god!" shouted Riley. Her sides were beginning to burn, but she couldn't stop laughing.

   Pietro Maximoff, on the other hand, was not amused whatsoever. "This is why everyone hates Americans. Your question doesn't even make sense!"

   Riley straightened her posture, wiping away a tear that wasn't there. "Your question doesn't even make sense," she mocked with a terrible Sokovian accent. "I asked you: If you headbang fast enough, would it sound like a helicopter? How does that not make any sense?"

   Throughout the past year, Riley O'Dair was granted the opportunity to train the newest members of the Avengers, specifically the Maximoff twins. Though their powers were remarkable, they required the most training.

   Riley often trained the twins separately because they were a distraction to one another and they needed guidance in different, almost opposite areas. Though Wanda was quick on her feet, she lacked physical strength and control over her powers. Meanwhile, Pietro excelled in combat and had a strong grip on his powers, but he lacked focus, initiative, and endurance.

   Riley was currently training Pietro while the others sought out Brock Rumlow. Yes, HYDRA was still active, and Rumlow was still on the loose. The terrorist organization was rumored to try and steal a biological chemical weapon from the Institute for Infectious Diseases in Lagos, Nigeria. Brock Rumlow was believed to be leading the operation.

   Riley was originally supposed to travel to Lagos with the team; however, she believed that Wanda needed more field experience without depending on the younger (which was something Wanda did quite often). Riley decided to send Wanda on the mission without her, leaving Valor to stay back at the HQ with Pietro to train.

   Riley wasn't too worried about Wanda. They'd been training hard, and Wanda was making exceptional progress, unlike her brother. Pietro had been falling behind, thus giving Riley even more of a reason to stay back to train him one-on-one. Riley didn't mind though. What kind of hero would she be if she didn't help her own teammates get stronger?

   The only problem was that over time, Riley and Pietro had developed a proper friendship, meaning that they got distracted more often than not.

   Rolling his eyes, Pietro grumbled, "I'd like to go back to kicking your ass now."

   Riley scoffed. "Excuse me? JO, run me those numbers, please! Who keeps winning every time Pietro and I spar?"

   "Processing numbers," announced JOCASTA.

   "You're oddly polite for someone who's so incredibly annoying," Pietro commented.

   Riley shrugged. "I do it out of spite for dumb adults like you," she taunted.

   "Miss Valor has defeated Mr. Maximoff 93% of the time throughout the past four days."

   "Ha!" Riley yelled while Pietro denied, "No way! Your robot lady is just biased!"

   "That is funny, Pietro, but I'm just a computer. I can't be biased about anything," JOCASTA revealed. "However, I will admit that according to these numbers, Miss Valor is better than you."

   Riley snickered. "It's not my fault I keep winning. I'm a badass and you're too predictable." When Pietro tried to argue, she held her hand up. "Don't even try it, roadrunner. You lack stamina and endurance, and you don't think before you act!"

   Pietro shook his head, his fluffy platinum hair moving with him. "That's unfair! You know all my moves best because we've trained for so long together."

   Riley differed. "It's time to start taking this stuff more seriously, Pietro. You're losing your focus. Wanda's excelling and you're falling behind," she told him, becoming a little more serious. "You have the potential, you're just not using your brain. Honestly, I'm starting to think being a man is a handicap or somethin'."

   As she walked over to grab her water bottle, Riley added, "Haven't you ever read a comic book or watched superhero movies? There are tons of fake heroes with superspeed that you can rip off."

   "Are you forgetting I was an orphan living in a third-world country?"

   Eyes widening, Riley faltered. "O-Oh, I didn't mean it like that! I just meant—" She paused when she noticed Pietro smirk. "You're such an asshole!"

   With a laugh, Pietro teased, "It's just too easy to guilt-trip you, Riley."

   "Yeah, yeah, whatever." As she took a swig of her water, her eyes lit up with an idea. "Hey, do you remember Fury talking about that kid's movie with the superhero family?"

   Pietro had to think about it. "You mean the one with the kids that have the same powers as us? I think he said it was called The Incredibles."

   "Yeah, that one!" affirmed Riley. "Maybe we can watch it and rip off their tricks! Or at least inspire some new ones. Your speed is badass and you don't even know how to use it."

   He chuckled at the thought. "How are you so sure that could work?"

   Riley shrugged. "How hard could it be?" She placed her bottle back down and stretched out her arms. "Alright, let's get back to work. I wanna see some improvement by the end of the day."

   Like clockwork, the stubborn man started to disagree, only to be interrupted by JOCASTA. "Miss Valor, there's been an accident."

   Riley quickly switched gears, eyebrows furrowed together. "Tell me everything, JO," she demanded.

   "It's the team in Lagos, Nigeria. I'm receiving information from news stations and emergency calls in the area. It appears there was an explosion about 10 minutes ago."

   The two enhanced heroes exchanged worried glances. "An explosion?" Pietro repeated. "How?"

   "Was it that chemical the mercs were trying to get their hands on?" continued Riley. "How many casualties? Did we lose anyone on our side?"

   "I'm hearing that one of the mercenaries set off a bomb, but I don't think it has anything to do with the targeted chemical. Fire and rescue are trying to save who they can as we speak, but it doesn't look good. Our team is fine, but the number of civilians killed by the explosion is undetermined."

   Riley made an o-shape with her mouth. "Oh," she mumbled. She tensed, worried about the innocents in Lagos. "Update us when you hear anything else. I don't care how small it is."

   "Roger that."

   That was one month ago.

   Riley eventually learned what happened that fateful day in Lagos based on mission reports and the news. Rumlow had attempted to commit suicide using his bomb vest, intentionally trying to take Steve down with him in an act of revenge. Wanda was able to contain the explosion, but she lost control of her powers and inadvertently destroyed a nearby building. This killed several innocents, including 11 relief aid workers from Wakanda.

   Riley was heartbroken after hearing what happened. She was always so quick to burden herself with the guilt of unnecessary deaths, always believing that she could've prevented them had she been around. This time, she was also devastated knowing that Wanda was undoubtedly putting all of the blame on herself.

   Riley had been convinced Wanda was lead their team to success in Lagos, only for this to happen. She was worried that maybe she put too much pressure on Wanda—just like how Natasha and S.H.I.E.L.D. once did to Riley back in the day.

   Unlike her previous superiors, Riley was more compassionate and understanding. She knew what it was like to be in Wanda's position. But it seemed like no matter what, Riley couldn't make things right for Wanda. Not because she wasn't trying hard enough, but because someone was taking action before Riley could.

   Riley was startled with Tony Stark showed up at the Avengers Facility with the Secretary of State by his side. Judging how tense Tony was and the way the Secretary called for a mandatory meeting, Riley knew it couldn't have been good.

   Secretary Thaddeus Ross stood at the head of a conference room. Riley, Rhodey, Natasha, Steve, Tony, Sam, the twins, and Vision gathered around to hear what he had to say.

   "Five years ago, I had a heart attack. I dropped right in the middle of my back-swing." He mimicked a traditional golfing pose. "Turns 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 never taught me: Perspective."

   Ross resumed, "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 gently asked.

   "How about "dangerous"?" returned Ross. "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?"

   Ross activated a screen behind him. News footage from different Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. matters flashed across it.

   "New York." A Chitauri leviathan soars. Citizens flee, soldiers fire their guns. Roman and Hulk smash through several buildings, sending dust clouds to engulf the camera.

   "Washington, D.C." Three Insight helicarriers. A destroyed Triskelion. A helicarrier crashes into the Potomac, creating a massive tidal wave to swallow the camera.

   "Sokovia." Terrified civilians run aimlessly. The city rises. Buildings tumble and soon, the city explodes.

   "Lagos." A burning building. Paramedics shuffle through bodies—some alive, most dead.

   Riley clenched her jaw. She tried to remain stoic, but it was arduous revisiting so many traumatizing memories all at once.

   "Okay, that's enough," Steve cut in. He could sense the room's discomfort. His gaze was on Wanda, who couldn't stomach watching the footage from Lagos. Maybe Steve felt protective because, like Riley, Wanda was just a kid.

   Ross nodded to an aide. Soon, the images faded. "For the past four years, you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision," Ross said. "That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution."

   Ross set a thick document on the table, sliding it toward Wanda. Riley eyed it as Ross revealed, "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."

   Riley's eyebrows shot upward. She didn't like the sound of that. Steve glanced back at Ross and confessed, "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?" challenged Ross. He had a point. The Avengers hadn't heard from them since Ultron. "If I misplaced a couple of 30 megaton nukes, you can bet there'd be consequences." Ross circled the others. "No more secrets, no more running around freely. Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."

   Wanda passed the documents toward Rhodey, who stared down at them. "So, there are contingencies," Rhodey assumed.

   "Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords. Talk it over." With that, Ross headed toward the door to leave the Avengers.

   "And if we come to a decision you don't like?" Natasha questioned, causing Ross to stop.

   He looked back at the others, and without hesitation, he simply said, "Then, you retire."

○ ○ ○

   It was almost laughable to Riley to think that the Avengers could be divided so easily. Time and time again, one little breeze of wind could pass by and they folded like a goddamn house of cards. The announcement of the Sokovia Accords brought forth a whirlwind of concerns and ceaseless arguing.

   "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 LoJack us like a bunch of common criminals?"

   "117 countries want to sign this," Rhodey contended. "117, Sam. And you're just like, No, that's cool. We got it."

   Sam and Rhodey had been bickering for the past fifteen minutes. The Sokovia Accords were a bigger deal than Riley was anticipating. She didn't fully process that she actually had a choice in the matter. She was far too used to S.H.I.E.L.D. making decisions for her.

   "How long are you going to play both sides?" demanded Sam.

   Before Rhodey could respond, Pietro chimed in, "From what I can see, I don't think we have much of a choice. We agree to their terms, the government gets to control us. We disagree, they still watch our every move and try to control us." He motioned to the Accords in Steve's hands. "Don't you see it? They're not giving us a choice, they're giving us an ultimatum." 

   Vision sat beside Wanda, one leg crossed over the other. "I have an equation," the android proposed.

   "Oh, this will clear it up," sarcastically grumbled Sam, arms folded, as Riley was begged, "Dear Gods, please don't bring math into politics. I can barely process what's going on as it is."

   All attention fell on Vision as he proclaimed, "In the eight years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man, the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially. During the same period, the number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate."

   Steve peered up from the Accords. "Are you saying it's our fault?"

   "I'm saying there may be a causality," corrected Vision.

   Riley shook her head. "There are tons of enhanced individuals that have been around since before Tony. For example, me."

   "Precisely," agreed Vision. "When the public was able to openly react to Iron Man, people became inspired to step forward. 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."

   Rhodey turned back to Sam, satisfied. "Boom."

   Ignoring them, Riley confessed, "I don't understand. Didn't we learn this already? We can't stop people from evolving. The world already knows the Avengers. Putting us on a leash while they continue to grow will just create more problems... right?"

   Riley was a famous overthinker, so she was glad someone like Vision was always involved in any conversation. He always had an answer to her hypotheticals and concerns. That was what she liked most about the android. No matter how much she'd overthink, Vision would always help her get back on track and help her form her own opinions.

   Because, again, Riley wasn't used to making decisions of her own. She could choose between basic things like what to eat, but nothing that would impact her life. Riley felt like she had to agree to the Sokovia Accords because that seemed like her only option. But that didn't mean she wasn't exactly a fan of them.

   "Perhaps," returned Vision, "but by keeping the Avengers in line, Secretary Ross must believe it might set forth an example for future threats. It would reflect the seriousness of the team."

   Natasha glimpsed back at Tony, who had been laying on one of the couches with his hand over his face. "Tony," she lightly beckoned. He removed his hand as she continued, "You are being uncharacteristically non-hyperverbal."

   Steve had to refrain from scoffing as he dryly excused, "It's because he's already made up his mind."

   Tony rolled his eyes. "Boy, you know me so well." He rose to his feet, wincing. He rubbed the back of his head, revealing, "Actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache."

   Riley knew that he'd been silent because he must've already had the time to think about the Accords on the way over. Ross probably sought out Tony to discuss them prior to showing up at the Avengers Facility. She wondered what he had to say about all of this. She figured he'd oppose the Accords.

   Tony strolled toward the kitchen, retrieving a mug. "That's what's going on, Cap," he proceeded. "It's just pain. It's discomfort." He glanced down at the sink. "Who's putting coffee grounds in the disposal? Am I running a bed and breakfast for a biker gang?"

   Riley and Pietro exchanged glances, knowing that they were the ones who had been doing it.

   Tony placed his phone onto the countertop, tapping it to project an image of a smiling young man. "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," introduced Tony. His words were sharp, aggressive, accusatory. "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."

   Silence. Riley's heart sunk in her chest. Charles was dead. The Avengers killed him.

   "He wanted to make a difference, I suppose," Tony went on. "I mean, we won't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kicking ass." He swallowed a pill with his freshly brewed cup of coffee before turning back to his team. "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."

   Riley snapped her head upward at his words. That was the last thing she'd been expecting from Tony. Tony Stark, the guy that told the law to go fuck itself a few years ago, was agreeing with the government. What surprised her on top of this was that his words sounded exactly like someone she'd once said to him.

   And the craziest part was, Riley wasn't sure if she agreed with him completely.

   Riley had a feeling the guilt after Ultron was still weighing on him more than it weighed on her. How could it not? Riley wished she could help him, but it seemed like the Sokovia Accords were her only option.

   "Tony, someone dies on your watch, you don't give up," Steve claimed.

   "Who said we're giving up?"

   "We are if we're not taking responsibility for our actions. This document just shifts the blame."

  Rhodey scoffed. "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 HYDRA—"

   "No, but it's run by people with agendas, and agendas change," Steve insisted.

   Riley found herself agreeing with Steve. After what happened with HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D., not to mention that time she was supposed to be used as a humanized weapon, Riley didn't particularly adore the government like she used to.

   "That's good," Tony emphasized. He made a beeline back to the group. "That's why I'm here. When I realized what my weapons were capable of in the wrong hands, I shut it down and stopped manufacturing."

   "Tony, you chose to do that. If we sign this, we surrender our right to choose," Steve disputed. "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."

   "Wait," Riley suddenly spoke up. This whole time, she'd been against the Sokovia Accords, but everything in her brain seemed to shift all at once. "Our hands are the ones that created Ultron, aren't they? The same hands that killed thousands of people? If we sign these Accords, think about all of the people we'd be saving from our stupid decisions."

   "Right, everyone other than ourselves," muttered Sam.

   Riley snapped her head toward him. "None of this would've happened if we just acted like a team," she retorted. "Clearly, most of us here can't look past our egos to be trusted to do that." She sighed, gathering herself. "I don't like the sound of the Accords at all, but Ross is right. It's our fault most of this shit has happened. It's not a matter of preference, right? It's a matter of what's best for society. Isn't that who we're supposed to be fighting for?"

   Tony agreed. "Look, if we don't do this now, it's gonna be done to us later. That's the fact. It won't be pretty."

   Wanda frowned. "You're saying they'll come for me."

   Pietro shook his head. "They can't do anything to you."

   "We would protect you," acknowledged Vision.

   "Maybe Tony's right," Natasha confessed, causing Riley's eyes to widen. Since when did Natasha agree with Tony 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 interjected.

   Natasha hesitated. "I'm just... I'm reading the terrain. Both sides have valid points, just like Riley's said," she excused. "We have made... some very public mistakes. We need to win their trust back."

   Tony floundered. "Focus up. I'm sorry, did I just mishear you or did you agree with me?"

   "Oh, I want to take it back now."

   "No, no, no. You can't retract it. Thank you. Unprecedented. Case closed—I win."

   In Riley's peripheral, she noticed Steve suddenly tense up as he read something on his phone. He didn't bother entertaining the discussion any further. He merely excused himself and left the others, who had no idea his first love and the only person left from his old life, Peggy Carter, was dead.

   Riley listened as the others continued to discuss the Sokovia Accords. She walked toward the table where Steve left the document, trailing her fingers over it. Was it really that simple? Were the Avengers going to just sign over their rights and leave it at that?

   Riley knew her village like the back of her hand. One little debate wasn't going to end the argument of whether or not the Sokovia Accords were a good idea. They hardly agreed on anything, not without a fight.

   Something told her that the fight was just beginning, and it wasn't going to end well for anyone.

○ ○ ○

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

welcome to the final arc of this book: civil war :O

this....is going to rip riley apart. she's spent her entire life having decisions made for her. she's never had a choice, and whenever she does, she tries to pick what the people she cares about wants. for example, riley helped tony and bruce create ultron because they wanted her to and she cares about them. another example would be how riley betrayed s.h.i.e.l.d. to help steve during the winter soldier. riley's only ever done what her team wants her to do, giving her opinion whenever she really thinks it's necessary.

but things are different this time because her team is being divided. this means whatever decision riley makes, she's losing people she considers family and that's going to seriously hurt her. natasha's in the same boat as her!! they don't want the team to break up, but decisions have to be made and you can't change how people feel about things.

riley's going to grow a lot throughout this arc, but at what cost? :( i hate civil war, but it must be written

((also tony and steve were both valid in their arguments and the need to pick a side is stupid. thank you goodbye))