Н“‚Н“Ž Н’¹Ð‘’Н’¶Ð“‡ Н“ˆð“…Н’¾Ð’¹Ð‘’Н“Ž – Н“…. Н“…Н’¶Ð“‡Ð“€Ð‘’Н“‡ chapter 4

2016 still New York – Manhattan

The early morning light filtered through the windows of the Avengers training facility, casting long shadows across the sparring mats. Inside, Natasha Romanoff stood in her fighting stance, muscles taut and focused, her sharp eyes locked on her opponent: Alec Stark. Despite his lean, youthful appearance, the boy had proven himself a fierce combatant, gifted with powers that most could only dream of. But today, on the mats, none of that mattered.

– Come on, Stark. – Natasha said, a smirk playing on her lips as she moved her feet lightly across the mat – You rely too much on your powers. Show me what you’ve got without them.

Alec grinned, wiping a stray strand of dark hair from his eyes. He rolled his shoulders, flexing his muscles beneath his black compress shirt.

– Are you sure about that, Romanoff? I don’t want to embarrass you in front of Cap later. – she narrowed her eyes, taking the teasing in stride.

– You wish. – and without warning, she lunged forward.

Alec barely had time to react before Natasha was on him, her movements precise and calculated. She struck at his midsection with a quick jab, which Alec blocked with his forearm, his other hand sweeping toward her in a counter-strike. Natasha dodged, her body twisting gracefully as she used her momentum to spin around him, aiming a sharp kick toward his ribs.

He caught her leg mid-kick, his reflexes fast, but Natasha was faster. She yanked her leg back and used his momentary distraction to sweep his legs out from under him. Alec hit the mat with a soft thud, but before Natasha could follow up, he rolled to the side, coming up on one knee and launching himself at her.

– Not bad. – the woman grunted as she ducked his swing. Alec’s fist sailed harmlessly over her head as she stepped inside his guard, her elbow striking toward his chin. He leaned back just in time, grinning again.

– Not bad yourself. – he replied, his eyes gleaming with challenge – But let’s make this interesting.

He teleported in a blink, vanishing and reappearing behind her, his hands reaching to grab her shoulders. Natasha, ever the expert, anticipated the move. The second she felt him materialize behind her, she ducked low, slipping out of his grasp. Her leg shot out, sweeping him again. Alec hit the mat with a laugh, landing flat on his back this time.

– You said no powers. – Natasha quipped, standing over him, hands on her hips.

Alec raised his hands in surrender, still smiling as he pushed himself up.

– Okay, okay. You got me.

Before they could reset, the gym door slid open. Steve Rogers stepped inside, dressed in his full combat gear, his shield slung across his back. His face was all business as he looked at the two.

– Training session’s over. – Steve said, his tone serious but not unkind – We’ve got a mission in Lagos. Things are heating up. We need to be ready to move out in ten.

Natasha gave Alec a knowing look, grabbing a towel to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

– Guess playtime’s over.

Alec stood, breathing slightly heavier, though still far from exhausted.

– I was just getting warmed up. – Steve chuckled softly at the boy, though his gaze remained focused.

– You’ll have plenty of time to warm up out there. Suit up. We leave in ten.

As Steve turned to leave, Alec glanced at Natasha, raising an eyebrow.

– So… how many drones do you think we’ll be dealing with this time? – Natasha smirked.

– Enough to keep you on your toes, Stark.

With that, the two fighters walked off the mats, ready for whatever mission awaited them in Lagos.

•••

Nigeria – Lagos

The air in Lagos was thick with tension as the Avengers moved silently through the crowded streets. Their target, a terrorist named Brock Rumlow, known as Crossbones, was hiding out in a marketplace, his crew armed and dangerous. Captain America, Natasha, Sam Wilson, Wanda and Alec moved through the city like shadows, each step calculated, their eyes scanning the area for threats.

From his position in the air, Falcon communicated with the team below.

– Eyes on the target. He’s moving fast. Looks like they’re prepping for something big.

– Alec, – Steve’s voice came over the comms – you and Natasha stay close. We can’t let Crossbones out of our sight.

Alec nodded, his eyes flicking between the crowd and the rooftops. His powers hummed just beneath the surface, ready to spring into action.

– Got it. – he muttered. His mind brushed against the civilians around them, quickly scanning for danger, trying to locate the bomb he knew Crossbones had.

Suddenly, chaos erupted.

Crossbones and his men attacked, charging into the marketplace, their weapons firing. Civilians screamed and scattered in all directions. Steve hurled his shield, deflecting bullets as he fought through the crowd, while Natasha darted between attackers, her movements fluid and deadly. Sam soared overhead, providing aerial cover as he dropped into the fray, guns blazing.

Alec was already on the move. In a flash, he teleported to the heart of the fight, appearing right in front of Crossbones’ men. With a flick of his wrist, Alec sent out a wave of kinetic energy, lifting one of the thugs off his feet and slamming him into a wall. Another tried to aim at him, but Alec’s mind connected with his, telepathically freezing him in place.

– Not today. – Alec muttered, knocking the man out with a swift punch before disappearing again in a blur of motion.

The fight was intense, the team working in perfect synchronization. Steve and Natasha took down Crossbones’ men one by one, while Alec teleported across the battlefield, keeping enemies disoriented and off-balance. Falcon dropped from the sky to assist, wings sweeping low as he fired at another group of attackers.

But then, Crossbones made his move. He rushed toward Steve, engaging him in brutal hand-to-hand combat. As they fought, Alec sensed something wrong. His telepathic connection with the area picked up on Crossbones’ thoughts – dangerously focused, determined.

– Cap! – Alec shouted through the comms – He’s got a bomb!

Steve threw Crossbones off balance, but it was too late. The villain sneered as he activated the bomb strapped to his chest.

– This is for Sokovia. – Crossbones growled, the device starting to glow, its timer ticking down.

Panic surged through Alec. The bomb was primed to explode, and they were surrounded by civilians. Wanda Maximoff was nearby, ready to use her powers, but Alec moved first. Without hesitating, he teleported to Crossbones, grabbing the bomb with both hands. His mind screamed as he used his power over metal to pull the explosive device free from Crossbones’ armor, but it was already too late to defuse it.

Alec gritted his teeth and teleported again – this time, several feet away, to an abandoned alley near the market. With all his strength, he hurled the bomb into the sky with a blast of kinetic energy. The bomb exploded mid-air, but not far enough. The shockwave rippled out, slamming into nearby buildings, windows shattering, debris raining down on the people below.

The impact was devastating. Though Alec had saved most of the civilians from the direct blast, the explosion still sent chunks of metal and stone flying. Several civilians were knocked to the ground by the force, some of them wounded, blood staining the pavement.

Alec’s stomach dropped as he saw the aftermath. “Fuck, the government will not like this”, he thought. His heart pounded in his chest, guilt gnawing at him. He had prevented a larger catastrophe, but people were still hurt – innocent lives caught in the crossfire.

Falcon swooped down beside him, assessing the damage.

– You did what you could, Alec. – Sam said, his voice steady but grim – You saved a lot of people.

Alec shook his head, his hands clenching into fists.

– It wasn’t enough. People are still hurt. – his voice was tight with emotion, the weight of his decision hanging heavy.

Without another word, Alec walked toward the injured civilians, kneeling beside a woman who had been hit by falling debris. Her leg was twisted, blood pooling beneath her. Alec reached out, his hand hovering over the wound. His fingers glowed faintly as he activated his healing powers, focusing all his energy on the broken bone and torn skin.

The woman gasped as warmth spread through her, the pain receding. Alec’s brow furrowed in concentration, sweat dripping down his face as the wound slowly knitted itself together. He moved to the next victim, and the next, his hands trembling slightly as he healed each one.

– Cap, – Alec called into his comms, his voice strained – I’m helping the injured. I’ll catch up when I’m done.

On the other end of the line, Steve’s voice was firm but understanding.

– You did good, Alec. Do what you have to do. We’ve got this covered.

As Alec continued to heal the wounded, the weight of the mission pressed on him, but he knew he had made the right call. His powers might not have been able to prevent all the damage, but he could still save lives in the aftermath.

•••

Back to New York

   The room was heavy with tension as the avengers gathered around the long conference table. Sunlight filtered in through the tall windows, casting long shadows across their faces. The mood was somber, the weight of what had just happened in Lagos still fresh in their minds. Alec stood near the back, on his phone, texting Peter Parker, while the others filed in, each lost in their own thoughts.

   Steve was seated at the head of the table, his jaw tight as he stared at the large screen that had just displayed footage of their recent missions – Lagos, Sokovia, Washington D.C. – all the battles, and all the destruction that had come with them. Tony stood near the window, arms crossed, his face hard to read. He had been silent most of the meeting, but everyone could sense his growing unease.

   Alec, though, wasn’t feeling the same guilt that some of his teammates carried. The images of the explosion in Lagos played through his mind, but unlike Wanda, who sat beside Steve with her head bowed in regret, Alec knew that he had done everything he could. He had saved those people – healed the wounded, made sure no one died. In his eyes, it wasn’t their fault. The avengers had been stopping global threats. They were saving lives. Still, the world saw the collateral damage.

   Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross stood in front of the screen, pacing as he spoke. His words were sharp, direct, and aimed to hit hard.

– The world owes you an unpayable debt. – he said, looking at each avenger – You’ve fought for us, protected us, risked your lives. But in doing so, you’ve also made enemies. Today, the governments of the world want to say… enough.

   He clicked the remote, and a new image appeared on the screen: the Sokovia Accords. A detailed document, hundreds of pages thick, outlining a new system of oversight for the avengers. Ross continued, his voice taking on a grave tone.

– The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 countries. It states that the Avengers shall no longer operate privately. Instead, you’ll operate under the supervision and control of the United Nations. Only when and where the UN panel deems it necessary.

   Alec’s eyes narrowed as he listened. His stomach churned with a quiet sense of defiance. He turned off his phone, saying goodbye to the boy he was talking to. He glanced at Steve, knowing his stance on this was firm. Alec could already tell what was coming: they were being told to hand over control, to stop acting of their own accord.

– What if we need to act and they won’t let us? What if there’s a threat, and we’re shackled by red tape? – Steve leaned forward in his chair, his voice calm but resolute.

   But Ross didn’t flinch.

– If you don’t sign this, you’ll be retired. Or worse.

   The room went silent for a moment, everyone absorbing the reality of what Ross had just said. Alec shifted his weight, uncrossing his arms, his frustration mounting. He stepped forward, finally speaking up.

– Let me get this straight. – the boy began, his voice steady but tinged with sarcasm – We’re supposed to wait for a bunch of politicians to decide if we can save lives? You think they’re going to move fast enough when someone’s detonating bombs in cities or launching alien invasions? – Ross glanced at him, his expression cold.

– This is about accountability, kid. – Alec shook his head.

– No, this is about control. We’re the ones out there risking our lives, not them. I get it- people got hurt in Lagos. But I healed them. We did our job, and no one died. Now you want to handcuff us because some buildings got wrecked? – his voice grew sharper – You think Ultron or Hydra would’ve waited for UN approval?

   Tony turned from the window, his face unreadable as he finally spoke.

– It’s not that simple, Alec. People are scared. They need to feel like they can trust us. – Alec’s gaze snapped to his father.

– People already trust us. That’s why we’re here. We save lives. We’re not the problem, those maniacs we fight are.

– We’re not perfect, but we need to be able to act when we’re needed. – Steve nodded slightly, a small sign of solidarity with Alec.

   Ross raised an eyebrow, his patience thinning.

– 117 countries think differently. They’re scared of the damage, of the power you wield. They want to know someone’s got a leash on it.

– I don’t have a leash. And I’m not signing up to be someone’s attack dog. – Alec’s expression hardened.

   Natasha spoke quietly from the corner, always pragmatic.

– We can’t keep doing this without oversight. People need reassurance. – Alec turned to her, his frustration clear.

– Reassurance? We’ve been saving the world. People are alive because of us. And now they want to tell us when we can and can’t do that?

– But they’re scared of us. And maybe… maybe they should be. – Wanda finally spoke, her voice soft and conflicted.

   Alec took a breath, calming himself slightly, but the anger still simmered beneath his words.

– Fear doesn’t justify this. We didn’t sign up to be told where and when to save lives. We signed up because we can do what others can’t.

– We’ll think about it. But don’t expect us to sign just because you put the world in a room and handed them a pen. – Steve stood up, his gaze steady on Ross.

   Ross gave a tight-lipped smile, knowing that this would be far from easy.

– You’ve got time to make a decision. Just remember, the world’s watching.

   As Ross left the room, the tension between the avengers thickened. Tony rubbed his face, clearly struggling with the weight of the situation. Alec, however, remained firm in his stance. He wasn’t going to let politicians control him, not when they had bigger things to worry about than pleasing governments.

   The silence was heavy, each avenger lost in their own thoughts, processing what had just been laid out in front of them. The Sokovia Accords. Oversight. Control. It was a pivotal moment for the team, and they all knew it.

   Steve was the first to speak. His voice was low but firm, the determination in his eyes clear.

– We can’t sign this. The minute we do, we’re not a team anymore, we’re weapons. We won’t be able to act when we need to. We’ll be sitting around, waiting for someone to give us permission while people die.

   Tony sighed, stepping away from the window where he had been standing. He crossed his arms and turned to face Steve.

– Steve, come on, it’s not that black and white. You think we can just keep operating the way we have been? After everything that’s happened? The world needs to feel safe from us, not just with us.

   Alec, who had been standing near the back, shook his head, clearly frustrated.

– Safe from us? Since when are we the problem? We’re out there, saving people. We’ve fought aliens, robots, terrorists, people are alive because of us. And now they want to chain us to the UN because we fucked up once?

   Natasha, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, spoke next, her voice calm but serious.

– We’ve crossed lines, Alec. Whether you feel guilty or not, that’s a fact. We’re powerful. And people are scared of that. Look at Lagos. Even if you healed everyone, the damage was done.

   Alec frowned but said nothing. He knew what Natasha meant, but he didn’t agree with the solution.

– Yeah, people are scared, but letting the UN decide when we can act? That’s not going to stop the next Ultron, or the next alien invasion. We’re going to be sitting around with our hands tied, while the world burns.

– People died in Sokovia. And in Lagos. It’s not just about us… it’s about what we leave behind. Maybe some kind of oversight wouldn’t be so bad. So… this doesn’t keep happening. – Wanda spoke up, her voice soft and unsure.

   Steve turned to her, his voice gentle but firm.

– Wanda, you’re not the one to blame. None of us are. We’ve been trying to stop the worst threats this world has ever seen. But if we start taking orders from politicians, we’re going to be at their mercy. We won’t be able to make the decisions we need to, in the moment. And what if their agenda isn’t about saving people? What if it’s about controlling us for their own gain?

– Steve, we’re soldiers. We’ve always had a chain of command. What makes this different? – Rhodey, seated beside Tony, folded his arms, weighing in. But Steve didn’t even hesitate.

– Because we’re not just soldiers, Rhodey. We’re fighting battles the rest of the world can’t. We need to make those calls ourselves. We need to be free to act when it’s necessary, not when it’s convenient.

   Tony shook his head, frustration clear in his voice.

– Steve, the way we’ve been doing things… it’s broken. We can’t just go rogue every time we think we know better. We’re not infallible. We make mistakes.

   Alec interjected, his voice sharp.

– But we fix them, dad. That’s what we do. We don’t need some bureaucrats stepping in, telling us how to fight or when to fight. We’ve been doing fine without them.

   Vision, who had been silent until now, spoke from where he stood by the window, his calm and logical tone cutting through the tension.

– Perhaps the question is not whether we need oversight, but whether we can continue without it. We are powerful, yes, but that power comes with responsibility. The world has seen us act without restraint, and now they seek to contain that power. – Sam Wilson shook his head, disagreeing.

– We’re not the bad guys here. But you know what’s going to happen if we sign those accords? The second we do something they don’t like, we’re the enemy.

   Tony turned to Sam, his voice rising slightly.

– And if we don’t sign? What then? We go underground? We become fugitives?

   Steve stood, his voice stronger now, a leader stepping into his role.

– If that’s what it takes to keep doing what’s right, then yes. I’m not going to let some government body tell me who the enemy is. We’ve seen what happens when people in power get to decide who’s good and who’s bad. We can’t let that happen.

– Steve, we have to compromise. – Tony ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated – We can’t just ignore this. If we don’t sign, we’re done. All of us. You think they’re going to let us keep operating as we have been?

– Maybe not. – Steve met his gaze, unflinching – But I’m not signing away our freedom to act when it’s needed. And I don’t think any of you should either.

   The room fell silent again, the weight of Steve’s words hanging in the air. Each avenger seemed lost in their own thoughts, considering the implications of what was at stake. Alec spoke up one last time, his voice firm.

– We’ve saved the world, more than once. And we’ll keep saving it, with or without their approval. If they want to control us, fine. But I’m not signing away my ability to do what’s right.

   Tony looked at Alec, his expression conflicted.

– It’s not that simple. – Alec shrugged.

– Maybe it’s not. But I’m a teenager, and even I can see that’s not fucking right.

   As the discussion quieted, the lines were drawn. Some, like Tony and Natasha, leaned toward the Accords, seeing the need for oversight. Others, like Steve, Sam, and Alec, saw it as a chain that would bind them when the world needed them most.

   And with that, the rift in the Avengers began to deepen, the fracture that would soon tear them apart.

•••