"Why should we accept a bill like this? We've clearly protected people and defeated so many threats!"
Scott stood in the conference room, grumbling nonstop.
Ever since Renzo had invited him to join the Avengers a year ago, his life had completely changed. He had gone from being a petty thief to—ironically—an Avenger who used to be a thief. Things had been going well: the company he started with his friend had gained investment support, his relationship with his ex-wife had improved, and he was finally able to spend more time with his daughter.
Until yesterday, when Ross had gathered them all and introduced the Sokovia Accords.
"I'm not signing it. Those people are no different from Tony Stark—just a bunch of vampires!" Pietro crossed his arms, glaring at Rhodey. Tony wasn't present, but Rhodey might as well have been speaking for him.
Wanda sat quietly, staring at Renzo across the table. There was a trace of sadness and resentment in her eyes—as if silently accusing him of disappearing without a word for over a year.
Renzo felt uncomfortable under her gaze. He glanced at her briefly, then quickly looked away, as if afraid she would catch him.
It's only been a while! Not that long!
He shouted inwardly, but the tension in the room made everything feel awkward.
Steve sat at the head of the table, silent and solemn; Natasha's expression was cold and controlled, her sharp eyes scanning everyone—especially Renzo; Scott and Sam continued to complain, clearly dissatisfied with the government; Pietro looked like he wanted to tear Renzo apart.
Wanda's gaze remained complicated. In her short life, Renzo had been the first person—outside of her family—who made her feel a sense of reliance.
She knew he was artificial, not someone she could connect with in a normal way. And yet, she couldn't help wanting to be close to him. Whenever she was near him, she felt an inexplicable warmth, like a gentle breeze in spring—completely different from the feeling of being with her brother.
"Ahem. I think everyone understands why we're here—the Sokovia Accords and the Superhuman Registration Act."
Steve cleared his throat, silencing the room.
"I'll state my position first." He stood, looking around at everyone with quiet determination. "I oppose the Sokovia Accords."
No one questioned him. They all already knew where they stood—and they understood each other well enough to anticipate those choices.
"Cap, you can't just act on your own," Rhodey tried to argue, but Pietro cut him off immediately.
"Don't talk, government lapdog. What's the point of signing an agreement? Wars that are meant to happen will still happen, and the ones that shouldn't happen will be hindered by people like you. Do you really think there aren't orders from people like you behind what happens in the Middle East?"
Pietro's voice rose with anger. As someone who had grown up in war, he despised officials like Rhodey. To him, they were all the same—driven by their own interests, indifferent to civilian lives.
"But when people need help, when they're desperate, those same agencies drag their feet and refuse to give anything. They want benefits without paying the price—that's how they operate."
Rhodey's expression darkened, but he couldn't refute it. He knew much of what Pietro said was true. The same people who had refused to send troops during the Battle of New York had been ready to launch a nuclear strike instead. That alone proved how little they valued human lives.
"Do you know this?" Natasha said, stepping forward and activating the projector. "In the eight years since Tony publicly became Iron Man, there have been more superhuman-related incidents than in the previous fifty years combined. Several of them nearly ended the world. Do you still think this bill is unnecessary?"
The screen filled with images—ruins, war, refugees, blood.
The last illusion was stripped away, leaving only harsh reality. Explosions, screams, smoke, severed limbs, and fear pressed down on everyone like a suffocating weight.
Wanda turned away, covering her mouth, unable to keep watching. With a thought, Renzo shut off the screen.
"That's enough. There's no point in watching this anymore. Those things have already happened. All this does is satisfy your conscience."
His voice was calm, but firm.
"I will not sign this agreement. It exploits sympathy to create a force that can be controlled."
"Part of the reason this agreement exists… is because of your disappearance," Natasha shot back immediately, refusing to back down.
"Do you understand the consequences of an independent, intelligent life-form vanishing without a trace? It's more alarming than Sokovia ever was."
"Tony did everything he could to suppress the fallout. Ross has been bringing you up in every meeting. Do you really think this has nothing to do with you? That you can just stand aside?"
Renzo let out a cold laugh.
"First, my disappearance was not my choice. It was completely beyond my control. Your accusations are meaningless."
"Second, you don't see me as a teammate at all. You're just afraid of losing control over a weapon capable of disrupting the world."
He stepped closer, meeting Natasha's gaze without flinching.
"And finally—Natasha—you might want to find your green friend before making arguments like this. Most of what you just showed was caused by the Hulk, not the rest of the Avengers."
He stopped in front of her, his voice dropping slightly.
"If there's a fire in your own backyard, put it out first. No one is stopping you from having a life. But clean up your own mess before pointing fingers—otherwise, you'll end up turning on each other."
"Vision!" Steve cut in sharply. "That's enough."
Renzo's words had already crossed into something personal. Everyone knew what the Red Room meant to Natasha—her most painful, unforgettable past.
Natasha's face went pale. Her fists clenched tightly, her eyes trembling as fragments of memory surfaced.
Renzo turned away, no longer paying her any attention. In the films, she was a loyal and selfless comrade—but right now, her moral pressure and rigid stance only irritated him.
If emotion alone could solve war, the world would have been run by idealists long ago. They couldn't abandon their responsibilities just because of loss.
"With great power comes great responsibility," Renzo said quietly.
"And Captain… my name isn't Vision anymore."
"My name is Renzo."
__________________________________________
You can read early chapters on Patr*on. If you enjoy my work and would like to support me, consider becoming a patron. My Patr*on username is Renzo28557.