Epilogue

                                    

                                          
[A/N All italicized dialogue is from CA:CW]
                          
"Secretary Ross has a Congressional Medal of Honor, which is more than you have." Rhodey shot across the room. Tony sunk lower into the couch he was laying across, rubbing his face.
                          
They'd been having this argument for at least an hour, people going at each other from all sides. He wished Sally would just talk, she'd been sitting in the corner silently for the entire time.
                          
"So let's say we agreed to this thing. How long is it gonna be before they lojack us like a bunch of common criminals?" Sam snapped back. 
                          
"One hundred and seventeen countries want to sign this. One hundred and seventeen, Sam! And you're just like, 'nah, it's cool.'"
                          
"How long are you going to play both sides?" The former Air Force pilot asked sharply.
                          
"I have an equation." Vision interjected suddenly. Tony sighed. This probably would not help in any way. The robot really had no sense of tact, he'd have to keep that in mind if he designed another one.
                          
"Oh, this'll clear it up." Sam rolled his eyes.
                          
Vision was not deterred by the clear annoyance with his interruption.
                          
"In the 8 years since Mr. Stark announced himself as Iron Man, the number of known enhanced persons has grown exponentially. And during the same period, a number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurable rate."
                          
Steve sat up. "Are you saying it's our fault?"
                          
"I'm saying there may be a causality. Our very strength invites challenge." Vision leaned forward. "Challenge incites conflict. And conflict... breeds catastrophe. Oversight... Oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand."
                          
"Boom!" Rhodey pointed at the robot. Sam made a barely repressed noise of annoyance.
                          
"Tony?" Nat spoke suddenly. "You're being uncharacteristically non-hyperverbal."
                          
Tony groaned internally. He didn't want to talk about this right now. Not today.
                          
"That's 'cause he's already made up his mind." Steve's tone was decidedly judgmental.
                          
"Boy, you know me so well." Tony snapped, getting up and making his way into the kitchenette. "Actually, I'm nursing an electromagnetic headache. That's what's going on, Cap." 
                          
That was really how the others knew he was pissed off. He had grown used to at least calling them by their last names instead of their titles.
                          
"It's just pain." Tony continued. "It's discomfort. Who's-" He nearly choked when he realized what he was asking, "putting coffee grounds in the disposal? Am I running a Bed and Breakfast for a biker gang?"
                          
Percy had always been the worst when it came to coffee grounds in the sink.
                          
He set his phone down and pulled up the screen. He'd been preparing this speech for hours.
                          
"Oh, that's Charles Spencer, by the way. He's a great kid. Computer engineering degree, 3.6 GPA. Had a floor-level gig, an intel plan for the fall. But first he wanted to put a few miles on his sole before he parked it behind a desk. See the world, maybe be of service."
                          
It hurt, thinking about this boy. He felt like his situation was so similar to Percy's. This kid wanted to help people, and he'd been ripped from the world because of it.
                          
"Charlie didn't wanna 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. He wanted to make a difference, I suppose. I mean, we won't know because we dropped a building on him while we were kickin' ass... There's no decision-making process here. We need to be put in check! And whatever form that takes, I'm game. If we can't accept limitations, we're boundary-less, we're no better than the bad guys."
                          
"Tony, if someone dies on your watch, you don't give up." Steve said. "What would Percy say about this?"
                          
Tony whirled, metaphorical guns blazing. "You don't get to make that argument, Rogers! And Percy of all people would understand the need for powers to be policed. Don't bring my nephew into this like he would side with you-"
                          
"STOP IT!"
                          
The room froze as Sally hurled a coffee cup at Tony's head.
                          
"Neither of you have the right to use my son as your bargaining chip in this! Especially not on the anniversary date of his funeral! If I hear either of you use Percy in your arguments again, there will be no more arguments because I will beat both of you into submission."
                          
She turned and stormed out of the room, trying to hide her tears.
                          
Tony and Steve glanced at each other, then at the others, at a loss. Wanda finally stood and walked off after the grieving mother.
                          
"Maybe Tony's right..." Natasha finally broke the silence, turning the group's attention back to the argument itself. Tony zoned out, staring at the sink.
                          
I'm so sorry, Percy. This is all my fault.