Chapter Text
Steve glared over the meeting table at the core three of the Justice League who had come to meet with the Avengers. Although several other heroes had come with to observe and give their own opinions, or just to spectate. “You can’t trust me? How can we trust you when you hide who you are?”
“My allies,” Wonder Woman narrowed her eyes at him, “have families, lives that would be in danger if their identities were revealed. Your identity puts none but you at risk. You have no need to maintain a career to support yourself, so no need to obscure who you are to remain in such a position.”
“If you're not willing to be known then maybe you shouldn’t be claiming to be heroes. A true hero stands up for what they believe in no matter the cost.”
Superman frowned, “Doing your duty to protect Earth and its citizens should not force us to endanger civilians with our identities being known, but that is not what we are here to discuss. As we just said, the Justice League or anyone we represent or works in association with the Justice League are vetoing your involvement in our operations.”
“Why meet with the Avengers if you're only going to refuse to work with us?”
“You are but part of the Avengers group. We came to discuss cooperation with each member of the Avenger’s group.”
“The Avengers are a team. If you don’t work with me, you won’t work with any of us.”
“Fuck you,” Clint glared at Steve, “You’re not the despot of the Avengers. If they want to work with some of us but not you, that’s understandable.”
Steve stiffened, “I’m not.”
Wonder Woman cut him off, “I understand that you are retired. Correct?”
Clint nodded, “Want to be at least.”
She reached into the folder Batman had set on the table pulling out a piece of paper, “This is the form for retiring heroes. It lists to what degree we can reach out to you for help when your expertise would be needed. Arsenal and Green Arrow have both volunteered to be your contact so you can choose if you have a preference. Arsenal is a non-active hero.”
“Non-active?”
“A non-active hero is one that is not engaging in any hero or vigilante actions, or maintaining an active presence in a cape group but will help when asked in most situations. This differs from a retired hero in that a retired hero is only contacted in the cases that apply to their agreement. Typically, those situations are world ending events or emergency response to a disaster, natural or not.”
Clint took the form, “This, this is perfect. Can I run this past my wife? I promised her I was going to retire completely but I think she’ll understand this. We can decide together what I will be willing to come in to offer aid for.”
“A response within the week would be desired. You can give it to Iron Man as he has connections with Batman and can pass it along to the Justice League that way.”
Steve interrupted Clint’s next question, “You're not willing to work with me but you do work with a man who endangers children for his crusade?”
Every Bat, minus Batman, tensed rage billowing off their forms, but it was Nightwing who spoke, “You do not know what you are speaking off, accept that we don’t want to work with you and allow us to talk to the others. In time, if your attitude improves, the Justice League may change their ruling on working with you.”
Red Hood snorted, “Yeah, like that will happen.”
“People do change Hood.”
“Some do, he’s not going to, but let’s not waste time staying in all this sunlight. We knew the big three would offer Hawkeye the retired position, which you should so pick Arsenal as your contact as he’s not a dick like Green Arrow.”
“That’s rich,” Green Arrow glared at Hood, “coming from a crime lord.”
Red Hood waved it off, “Whatever, Arsenal is cooler.”
Wonder Woman turned to Scott Lang, “What about you? Are you looking to be active, non-active, or a retired hero?”
Scott scratched the back of his neck, “Uh that’s really up to Hope since the suit isn’t actually mine. I mean if she says I can keep being Ant Man then I’d be willing to be an active, I kind of need a place to live and being an Avenger would be cool.”
“You violated the terms of your parole,” Batman growled, in the way his voice normally sounded, but the Avengers, minus Tony, couldn’t tell that Batman wasn’t extremely angry.
Scott swallowed, staring at Batman, “Ah yeah.”
“He was fighting for freedom!” Steve slammed his fist on the table.
Batman turned to Steve, Scott letting out a breath in relief, “He was outside his radius and caused billions in damages.”
Scott gulped, “Billions?”
Red Robin hummed, “I could get you an itemized list of the damages in Münich for you but in the other places in the world the documentation isn’t as readily available and we can not determine what costs went to each person. T’Challa isn’t asking for anything for Wakanda and paid for his portion of the damages in Münich from his personal funds.”
“I, I can never pay for that. I’m going back to jail.”
“I’ve contacted Hope Van Dyne about your situation, that you were a well meaning idiot and that your skills with the Ant Man suit would be a benefit to the cape community. She has agreed to let you keep acting as Ant Man, which will serve as community service for your criminal punishment, as long as you agree to never work under Mr. Roger’s command.”
“Agreed,” Scott didn’t even blink, “whatever I need to do.”
“As to make reparation for the damages, Dr. Stark has sent your resume to Stark Industries hiring committee for review. Wayne Industries has also expressed interest in your skills and is well known for hiring former convicts to help them start back up in their civilian lives. If Stark Industries does not hire you they will. As you will be staying in the Avenger’s properties your basic needs will be seen to by the Avengers Imitative so ninety-five percent of your income will go to the reparations. Are you interested in these solutions?”
“Completely. I’d be an idiot, well more of an idiot then I have been to say no.”
“Stark Industries or Wayne Industries will reach out to you.”
“Thank you.”
Superman smiled, “We look forward to working with you.”
Scott blinked, “Uh, me too? Um,” He looked around the room, “Can I go? Since you, you know are done with me?”
“If you think you have nothing to add yes,” Wonder Woman’s voice firmed, “You will be expected to sign the accords once they are approved by the Justice League.”
Steve rocked forward, “We’re not singing those things! We aren’t going to be anyone’s attack dogs!”
Superman blinked, “Attack? What are you talking about?”
“These accords are just meant to control us, to force us to do what the council wants.”
“I’m not sure where you got that idea,” Superman glanced at Batman, “The accords have nothing like that from what I read.”
“There have been attempts,” Batman grunted, “But nothing that has reached any draft of the accords. I’m not quite satisfied with all the subclauses but all the accords allow for is a standardized way to request aid and ways for countries to decide what aid they are willing to accept. There are clauses for emergencies such as natural disasters, alien invasions, and the like, but the accords are a framework countries can use to interact with the cape community. It is more official and streamlined then what the Justice League is currently using.”
“What about the Raft? You can’t argue that was right!”
“The Raft was ill thought out and not approved by the United Nations. A facility for containing those with superhuman abilities is needed for when those people commit crimes but better offers have been put forward and accepted.”
“The accords are wrong!”
Wonder Woman narrowed her eyes, “Have you even read them before condemning them? You can not judge something you do not know in truth. Only fools condemn what they do not know for not knowing it. If you read them and have specific issues with parts of the document you can bring it up with a representee to the United Nation. Now until you read them, be gone from here. Your presence is not needed and is a detriment to this meeting.”
“Fine.” Steve stood forcing his chair back, it scratched loudly against the floor, “I’ll read the accords and when I find proof I’m right you’ll be sorry.” With that he stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him.
Batman turned back to his paperwork, “Now who wants to go next?”