Chapter Text
Y/N sat at the table. Around her, the chatter was getting heated discussions of the Accords adding tension to the room by the second. She listened to harsh words accompanied by curt tones made no impact on the decisions being made. After the last Avengers mission, the United Nations had come to an agreement that the Avengers had come at too high a cost. In order to limit the damage world leaders and her father, Tony Stark, had gathered to draw up ‘the accords’ in order to more or less control their involvement in world affairs.
From her vantage point, she could understand her father’s argument. The Avengers whilst useful had injured many in their wake of justice. She understood that this was a necessary evil but if it could be limited, whatever action was needed to stop it should be taken, right? She watched her father stand by the table and lay down pictures of a college freshman who had been killed in Sokovia some months previous, as he explained that it was their actions that had cut this young life short she saw his shoulders fall. The weight of his guilt evidently crushing. He looked at her with sorrowful eyes and she knew that he couldn’t help but feel the pain that parent had about her boy. Y/N was similar in age after all and her dad never ceased his worrying.
From the other side of the table, Steve piped up. He understood what the accords meant but he felt that this restriction left the Avengers close to infiltration like SHIELD and HYDRA. How could they fight for the people if they were micro-managed, necessary evils were after all necessary, right? Though she wasn’t an Avenger she could understand his point too. Looking up she watched him pace, his hands resting on his slim hips. As the discussion continued he gazed at her, trying to gauge what her reaction was. His blue eyes were piercing as he looks at her evidently searching for reassurance in his beliefs, as she had become an important feature in his life. A reassurance, a conscience, someone to listen to him. She was his girlfriend after all. This meant that Y/N knew how he felt, she was always the one he debated his struggles with and she knew that he felt just as guilty as her father about the casualties they had caused.
And so Y/N was torn. As Steve looked at her Tony watched him. Both men relied on her opinion more than they cared to admit. Their problem was that even though they wanted her opinion they rarely acted on it, pig-headedness often clouding their judgment. People formed their allegiances until the only person who hadn’t spoken was Y/N.
‘Y/N?’ Tony said, his voice stern, 'what do you think?’
'I see both sides,’ she started which cause her father to snort in derision, he evidently was displeased she hadn’t outright picked his side. Y/N glanced at Steve who was wearing the same bitter expression but she proceeded. 'Honestly, I do but it’s nothing to do with me. I’m not an Avenger, I can’t make your decisions. But I won’t pretend that I want division between you all.’
Steve chewed on his lip. She could tell her answer had swayed him a little but she knew his beliefs were too strong.
'I’m sorry Tony, but I can’t sign.’ Steve said and Y/N knew that was final. An eerie silence fell amongst the group until Steve’s phone buzzed, he excused himself and disappeared downstairs his face noticeably crestfallen. Chatter restarted as he disappeared, people evidently feeling brave enough to voice their opinions now the main naysayer was gone. Annoyed by the group Y/N decided to excuse herself too, intent on finding out what was going on with him.
It didn’t take her long to find him sitting morosely at the bottom of the stairs, his head in his hands and his face wet with tears. He shifted as he heard her approach and sat upright wiping tears from his face as she came to sit on the step beside him.
'You okay?’ she asked, nervously. The Accords weren’t enough to get him this upset so whatever that text said was obviously serious. Steve shifted as he got out his phone, sniffing slightly he said, 'I don’t know, I got this.’ And he tilted the screen so that Y/N could view it,
‘She’s gone in her sleep x’
Was all that it said. It didn’t take long for her to piece together what it meant, Steve's reaction being the main clue. Peggy Carter had passed away peacefully, it was a small comfort in the heartbreak Steve would be feeling now. Y/N leaned into his side, resting her head on his shoulder and clasping his hand, she mumbled her condolences into his ear as he nodded. His tears had long stopped, resilient as ever.
'I guess this means I won’t be going to the accords signing,’ she said, making changes to her plans in her head already.
'Why not?’ He asked turning to look at her face.
‘I’m not going to leave you to deal with this alone, I know my dad will want me there but this is more important.’
'I’ll be fine,’ Steve replied with a definite edge to his voice.
'Steve, I honestly don’t mind. I’d like to come with you, it’ll be tough enough on the day no matter facing it alone. Besides, Peggy was a great woman. It’d be a shame not to pay my respects.’
'With all due respect Y/N, I’d rather you didn’t,’ he said evenly. Y/N was shocked and this was telltale on her face as her mouth fell into a small o shape. Seeing her reaction Steve backtracked, ‘it’s not that I won’t need you it’s just Peggy-, Peggy was a different part of my life. You’re the new part, I just feel that bringing you, would be a dishonour. And I couldn’t do that.’
His reasoning was logically and though she was initially annoyed she understood. Y/N knew that Steve loved her, with every fibre of his being. But it was a new Steve, and because he seemed so normal and adjusted it was often hard for her to remember that he’d lived in a whole other era. Where his best girl hadn’t been her, but the agent he’d never got that dance with. She nodded meekly and rested her head back on his shoulder, trying to hide some of her unreasonable displeasure. After a small silence, Steve spoke and asked her about her opinion on the accords.
'I see your point I really do. But I can’t say that I don’t see my dads either. I don’t know what to say but all I can ask is that you don’t let this get out of hand, please? I can’t lose you, or my dad because of the other.’
'That’s not going to happen,’ Steve murmured pressing a kiss into her hair,’ I promise.’
'I hope so, and Steve?’
'Mmm?’
'Take Sam with you, if I can’t go I mean.’
'Okay,’ he whispered as she cuddled into his side. Y/N sighed. She wanted to believe that so much, but she wasn’t sure how long the Avengers could live amicably if he refused to sign.