Possibility of Tomorrow - 44

 

Cont...

The common room in the compound was, for the first time since Peter could remember, completely clean. The coffee table was actually shining. He resisted the urge to put his feet on it as he and Harley sat on the couch in nervous anticipation for the upcoming announcement. 

Mr. Stark had made a moving speech two days ago to the UN, the remaining Accords Committee members, the Senate, Congress, and the Army. "Without balance, the world falls into chaos. Without balance, we fall. The heroes of this world do need oversight, I'll admit to that, but they don't need to be collared. Putting under the Accords as they stand now would chain down the ability of heroes to save the most potential number of people. Think about that, people dying because we aren't allowed to go help. The world needs heroes, whether we'd like to admit it or not. Whether they're good or bad got out civilizations, we cannot ignore the fact we now need them. We're in the age of necessity. Where we have all the information in the world at our fingers. We can build things never before seen in the age of man. We are in the age of information. But with it comes a great cost. Knowledge is power, and when everyone has it it's hard to protect others. From privacy violations to social rights, the world is on the edge of something no one has ever thought of. We are in the age of dreams. We aren't allowed to protect the dream. How can we build the future? How will we build it if we cannot use our own hands to save and nurture the world? If we grow our future in fear of others, how will our future give us unity? We need oversight matching the age we're in. Oversight that doesn't see the heroes in need of accountability but a world in need of saving. Oversight that looks after the good of the world in general first. Not heroes, not even civilians. But our future." The speech had gone viral, and the masses were in support. 

Today the verdict from Secretary Ross's trial and subsequently the verdict on the Accords was being announced to the public. The trial had been a sealed courtroom affair, so the public had no clue what was about to happen. 

"Is it on yet?" MJ asked, rushing over from the elevator. She'd been invested in this story for some time since she'd realized who Darling was. She also hated Ross with a burning passion that Peter had heard a lot about over coffee dates and long walks.

 "Nope." Ned teases coming over with a bowl of popcorn. He has no qualms putting the buttery bowl on the shining coffee table. "Still, a bunch of vultures waiting in the stands." 

Peter's girlfriend dropped on the couch next to him, "I hope that traitor rots in prison for the rest of his life." MJ stated blandly in a uniquely MJ way. 

Harley laughed, "Man, you got opinions. Me too." 

"You just want your girlfriend to be able to be in the same city as you without getting arrested." MJ retorted. 

"Hey-"

 "It's starting!" Peter silenced them. 

Everett Ross stepped up to the podium erected in front of the courthouse, "Thank you all for coming. I'm sure you're all desperate to know what happened, but please keep all questions till the end." Everett shifted, looking down at what Peter guessed were his cue cards, "Secretary of Defense, General Thaddeus Ross has been charged which multiple counts of espionage, treason, murder, and terrorist activities. He has been found guilty of all charges." Pandemonium rockets through the sea of reporters there on the steps. 

"Yes!" MJ shrieked before throwing herself at Peter, giving him a passionate kiss. 

"Because of this," Everett finally continues after the shouting died down, "The Sokovia Accords have come under scrutiny, and many major ethical, legal, and moral problems have arisen. These problems are such the current Accords cannot be cohesive with the Geneva convention, the US Constitution, or the European League's laws. Due to these issues, they have been overturned. All mandates, arrests, warrants, and further legal actions due to them have been rendered null. The court took into consideration Mr. Stark's public recommendation during his speech two days ago. The Accords will be rebuilt with all the heroes in agreement. Heading up this new legislation is Cornel James Rhodes. More actions will be taken to make this agreement agreeable to all. At this time, Mr. Stark has requested to come up and say a few words." Everest finished stepping back for Mr. Stark to step forward.

 "Well, the juries out. We now know who Ross truly was." Tony said, looking around, "I can't say I was truly surprised when the evidence was first shown to me. The lengths to which the man agent to get what he wanted were dangerously high. But I don't want to talk about that. I want to talk about the price we pay for the choices we make." He punctuated every word in that sentence letting it ring out, "Someone once told me that staying together is more important than how we stay together. And while there is great wisdom in those words, I have to disagree. Staying together is important. But considering others' feelings, others' opinions, that's as important too. If you forget one, you lose the other. You need both to be United. Bitterness kills unity. Anger kills unity. Secrets kill unity. I'm guilty of some of those. Everyone is. But they don't make us right or wrong, approving or disagreeing with them. They make us human. Above all, we must always remember that we are human. And the people around us are human. And no human will be able to stand on a perfect pedestal. No one is perfect. Good intentions can end up hurting, and good ideas can turn out to be bad ones. To have flaws is to be human. Forget that, and there is no unity. Forgetting that costs us friends, family, love, hope, and the future. I've made my fair share of mistakes but let me make it right. Let me take the first steps to healing." Tony looks straight into the cameras, "Steve, Romanoff, Wilson, Wanda, Barnes. Wherever you are out there, come home. Come home tonight." His sincere heartfelt emotional plea makes even the reporters fall silent. "Thank you. No questions." And just like that, the vultures start up again as Mr. Stark switches with Everett Ross again. The TV becomes background noise as the questions startup. 

"They really did it." Harley laughed with a little disbelief.

 "Not that hard with all the proof." MJ pointed out. 

"So that's it? The Accords are just gone? Just like that?" Ned asked in surprise, "That's easy." 

"Well, it took them two weeks to come to a decision, so it couldn't have been that easy." Peter points out. 

"So Steve and the others, you think they'll come back?" MJ asked. 

"I do." Peter nodded. His phone started ringing. "Speaking of that." He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it, "Hello?" He grinned, looking over at Harley, "Hey Darling. Give me a sec. I'll put you on speaker." FRIDAY muted the TV as Peter turned the phone on speakerphone and set it on the coffee table, "There we go. I take it you saw the TV?"

 "Yeah, they're still watching it. Really touching, the invite home." Darling's voice comes through the speakerphone, "I was wondering if you could get me that flight plan you finalized?"

 "Ah yeah." Peter grabbed him StarkPad. "One sec."

 "How's it feel to be free?" Harley asked. 

"Really good. Bucky started crying. Wilson called his sister. It's a lot of emotions." Darling sighed happily. 

"What about you? How do you feel?" MJ asked.

"I don't really know. I've never really had a place to call home. I've been running my whole life. I don't know what it's like to not. It'll be an interesting change. I am looking forwards to being closer to you all." Darling said thoughtfully. 

"Yeah, that'll be nice," Harley said almost dreamily.

 "Don't mind, lover boy over here. I got that flight plan for later today. You guys will be in for dinner, right?" Peter asked, sending the flight plan to Darling. 

"That's the plan. Should we bring anything?" Darling asked. 

"Goodness, no. I think Peppers plan was to get enough food to make all four of you super metabolisms sick with food." Harley laughed, "She's got all her bases double covered." 

"Just show up in time." Peter put his tablet down. 

"Alright. Then guess I'll see you all tonight. Wow." Darling said. 

"What?" Ned asked. 

"I just realized I'm probably gonna sleep on a real honest to God mattress that's not an overused old infested mess tonight. Nice thought." Darling said happily.

 "Well, we'll see you tonight." Peter smiled.

 "See ya." Darling hung up. 

"You two staying for dinner, right?" Harley asked, looking at Ned and MJ. They both went scrambling for their phones. 

"And miss this? Not a chance in the world!" 

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