Stark’s questions inflict a crease at his brow, a pause of thought given to the other Avenger’s words.
( not quite enough to quell the frustration brewing under his skin )
Bucky knows, verbally, Stark can give him the runaround all damn day (hell, he expects it). Bucky may not be a technical or engineering genius, but he knows how to zero in on verbal pressure points (the bane of most of his relationships– the petty, ugly defensive response to leave an argument less scathed than otherwise), and he knows how to dig the soles of his boots into the ground and refuse to move.
"I think the difference is clear to anyone with half a moral compass.“ There’s a grimace curling his lip, not quite a snarl, but his frustration’s clear, not really bothering to hide it. “The Avengers don’t operate outside the law to inflict harm– criminals, terrorists, invaders–? do. Intentionally. I’m not saying our lives are more important than anyone else’s. I’m not saying there haven’t been mistakes or collateral or causalities. I’m saying we’ve been through enough shit where things could’ve been a lot worse if the Avengers weren’t around. You know if we sign this document, we can only go where they tell us– oversight doesn’t have to mean restriction.
“When the Chitauri attacked Manhattan, and the World Security Council wanted to nuke the goddamn island, they didn’t want the Avengers to interfere, but you did. …Are you really gonna tell me that if given the same choice, you’d make a different call?”
The question hangs like an invisible noose between them, a stretch of silence that seems to last longer than it probably does in reality– frustration flaring to anger as Stark’s final comments begin to settle, longing to be ignored by the part of his mind that knows better than to pay them any spare thought, impossible to ignore by the stutter of anxiety thumping against his chest. Impulse urges him to stand, approach, but he controls it– only leaning forward, left hand closed into a fist he hadn’t been aware of until now.
“Let’s get something straight– I never ‘worked’ for HYDRA. I’d rather die.” His own words sting as much as Stark’s– knowing what the other Avenger doesn’t regarding his present, begrudging alliance with the organization; no matter how righteous the end may be, the means are still ones he still has trouble stomaching. “Their ideals aren’t mine– they never have been and they never will be.”
Tony could see that his comment struck a chord and that was definitely not what he wanted. But this might just be the edge he needed to grind continuously to break down Barnes enough to understand exactly what this entire ordeal meant to him. His gut kept telling him there’s something deeper, stranger, beyond the boundaries of the contract.
“You want to talk to me about a moral compass? You’re a foot soldier, no matter what side you were on, but you only did the dirty work nobody was willing to even try to take on.” Classic SHIELD move, probably one of the biggest reasons why Tony did not share their social views never mind their political views. But this... this was a lot more than just SHIELD. The Accords was bigger than all of them. “The Avengers are... was... a fluid unit. We knew the risks we took, each of us knew our limits and our capabilities. We worked together like one team. We didn’t need rules because we knew where to draw the line.” he shook his head. “some of the people out there, have no idea where to draw this line.”
He rolled his eyes and leaned back against his chair. “It was a calculated risk, we turned the situation around, adapted, divided the moment and conquered it all together.” With a glance to the side, a flash of memories from how he struggled with that PTSD made his sigh. “Do you think I would’ve flown that nuke right through that wormhole knowing I wouldn’t come back?” Attention turning back to James. “They didn’t count on me coming back. Do I blame them? No. My life means nothing if I weren’t able to save thousands.” Standing up, this was getting too personal. “Some of us have a choice, others don’t. Everyone wants equality, but they’re never able to face the consequences when necessary.”
Tony turned toward a window, hands sliding into his pockets. He couldn’t focus on anything beyond the glass. Albeit nature, people, whatever was beyond it, it meant nothing to him. “But some people do and that’s where you want to draw the line. Can never be sure if those people would fall back into their old instincts or move on.” slightly he pivoted his body toward Barnes. “You make this document sound like a death wish, but I ask you this. Would you rather stand in line at the guillotine, take your punishment that fit the crime. Or would you get burned at the stake for something that never crossed your ledger?”
A couple of fingers motioned between them. “See this is the problem between you and myself. You’re more concerned about what’s going on in that bubble you put yourself in, that you have no idea how the repercussions are affecting the people out there.”
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