#anti thaddeus ross

[hersheysmcboom]

At some point, the avengers win the Nobel peace prize.

[breckstonevailskier]

Rewriting Captain America: Civil War to actually make it a Captain America movie

Let's face it, the biggest problem with Civil War is that despite Captain America's name being in the title, it's not really a Captain America movie. It's more like an Iron Man 4 or Avengers 2.5 masquerading as a Captain America movie. I mean, the plot relies more heavily on threads from Avengers: Age of Ultron than it does Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Not to mention the creators deliberately trimmed/cut Team Cap scenes because they wanted audiences to be split 50-50 on what side to take, as if they needed to do that to make Team Iron Man Support a Piece of Legislation That Reads Like Something Written By HYDRA look good. And Tony Stark has more dialogue than Steve Rogers gets. And this is around the time when basically, the writing for the MCU decided to stop letting other characters call Tony out on his wrongdoings.

So how does one fix that?

General changes:

For starters, have HYDRA still be as important as they were in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Rather than have them be conspicuously absent, they are still very much lurking in the shadows. Bonus points by having the movie strongly imply (and members of Steve's side speculate) that the Sokovia Accords might be a brainchild of HYDRA's. After all, the Accords (and the ways they basically take away the rights and freedoms of enhanced individuals) read like something out of Nazi Germany, the place that Red Skull's HYDRA originated in.

Scene by scene changes:

Lagos aftermath:

The opening act in Lagos remains unchanged. It's a great action setpiece. However, some extra stuff is added to acknowledge that Rumlow's cell is obtaining the bioweapon with the purpose of carrying out an attack directed at people who pose a threat to HYDRA's existence.

In the aftermath, what I would change is the press coverage that goes out of its way to vilify Wanda. T'Chaka's biased take blaming the heroes for the destruction caused by Wanda relocating the explosion can stay, and maybe the second one where if not for the mentions of Wanda, you'd think they were talking about Rumlow. But I'd also add at least one newscast that is speaking favorably of the heroes, and praising Wanda for her efforts.

I'd slightly tweak Steve's scene with Wanda, and instead of saying, "The deaths are on both of us," he'd say, "It's not your fault, Wanda. It's Rumlow's fault. It's not your fault that he was a spiteful coward who decided he wouldn't let us take him in alive." I'd also have a scene or two of Vision doing his best to comfort Wanda and provide her someone to express her thoughts to, not unlike this scene from WandaVision:

Also a thing I'd fix is that I'd have the Avengers make some sort of press statement to defend Wanda from those who are unfairly vilifying her. Something to the effect of Natasha, Steve, and/or Vision going in front of a gaggle of reporters to read a statement as follows:

For the past month, the Avengers have been in pursuit of Brock Rumlow, international terrorist and confirmed member of HYDRA. Last week, the Avengers tracked him down to Lagos, Nigeria, where his cell was plotting to steal a biological weapon that it is believed they were going to use to carry out an attack that would kill hundreds of people. Acting per their training, the Avengers engaged Rumlow and his men, successfully killing or incapacitating most of them, and reclaiming the bioweapon. Eventually, Rumlow was successfully cornered. However, as Captain America was preparing to arrest Rumlow, he decided to blow himself up. As there were hundreds of people in the immediate area, Wanda Maximoff instinctively stepped in and used her powers to try to relocate the explosion into the sky where it wouldn't kill anyone. Despite Miss Maximoff's efforts, she ended up losing control of the bomb, and it ended up destroying part of one office building. It is a tragedy that despite the Avengers' successful efforts to stop Rumlow, there were still innocent civilian casualties, including the dozen or so people in the office building that were killed by Rumlow when he blew himself up. However, the blame for those deaths does not fall on Wanda Maximoff. Those deaths are the fault of a madman who, two years ago, was part of a plot by an organization dating back to Nazi Germany to use gunships to mass murder 20 million people, and whose motto is "Cut off one head, two more shall take its place." In addition, it needs to be pointed out Miss Maximoff also saved the lives of everyone in that marketplace. If it was not for her split second thinking, hundreds more people would be dead. And if the Avengers were not there in Lagos, a group of terrorists would have successfully released a bioweapon into the world, one capable of killing thousands. The Avengers are not responsible for the destruction brought upon by the bad guys that they are attempting to stop. That blame should start and end with the bad guys.

Because yeah, that would do wonders for Wanda.

Ross blaming the heroes for the destruction caused by the villains:

Yeah, this is something where Ross is a fucking hypocrite. “How about ‘dangerous’? What would you call a group of US-based, enhanced individuals who routinely ignore sovereign borders and inflict their will wherever they choose and who, frankly, seem unconcerned about what they leave behind?” Then his biased presentation showing footage from the Chitauri invasion in New York (The Avengers), the destruction of the Triskelion (Winter Soldier), Sokovia (Age of Ultron), and Lagos. This presentation is clearly done to paint Steve and his allies in a bad light, and Tony in a good light.

Thing is, though, this is just Thaddeus Ross blaming the heroes for the destruction caused by the villains. Not only in every aforementioned situation would things be worse if the Avengers weren't there (New York City would've been nuked by the WSC, HYDRA would've gotten the Project Insight carriers launched and 20 million people dead, Ultron would've wiped out human life, and terrorists would've gotten away with a bioweapon), but Ross is a hypocrite to try to pin this destruction on the heroes given his failures to capture the Hulk and the destruction he caused in his efforts. @thehollowprince posited here that they really should've had Steve call Ross on his hypocrisy right there and then.

Like, in response to Ross's remarks, Steve would speak up to say, "The Avengers as a whole are not responsible for Ultron destroying Sokovia's capital city. If you want to blame someone for that, direct all your blame at that man who decided to go behind his teammates' back to create Ultron," and point an accusatory finger at Tony. And as I said, have Steve throw Ross's failure back in his face to show that he really has no skin in the game.

Passage from thehollowprince's take on what should've been said:

“But, in the spirit of fairness, let’s talk consequences.” Steve went on. “F.R.I.D.A.Y.?” “Yes, Steve?” The A.I. said from the speakers. “Could you roll footage of Culver University, spring semester, 2008?” The screen that had been off immediately clicked back on and began playing back footage from cellphones and cameras of Ross’ failed attempt to contain and capture the Hulk in the middle of a crowded campus, using an unauthorized enhanced human, as well as weapons that put the civilian population in extreme danger. The last image was of the Hulk launching an armored truck at another, the screen immediately going static as the footage was lost. “Harlem, three days later.” The Hulk’s fight with a severely mutated Blonsky showed on the screen next, as well as the atrocities that Emil committed on his own before Banner stepped in to stop him. Ross’s face was reddening at having one of his biggest failures played in front of the very people he was trying to intimidate. Harlem was on of his biggest failures and he did a lot to try and distance himself from it. “Thank you, F.R.I.D.A.Y.” Steve said and the screen froze on an image of the infamous Abomination lifting a car above his head, about to crush it into some police officers. “Tell me, Mr. Secretary, where were your consequences? Because from what I understand, you tried to pin the whole thing on Blonsky and Banner, getting a medal and a promotion for your trouble.”

And, as happens in the hollowprince fix-it, Steve, as a last-minute parting shot, drops a bombshell on Ross that he was on HYDRA's hit list and would've been eliminated by Project Insight in the initial attacks upon the helicarriers' launches.

The Accords debate itself:

The big problem with the debate itself is that it's very one-sided. It's more "Tony and his allies make a lot of flawed points, and no one on Team Cap is allowed to call them out on it." So basically, the way to fix it would be to rewrite the debate using a combination of this one by @thehollowprince, as well as these ficlets on Archive of Our Own.

So, obviously, I would rewrite the debate to be more in Team Cap's favor, while we get multiple opportunities for Tony's side's points to be quickly picked apart and called out. To give examples of how this could go:

Have someone on Team Cap point out the whole fact that HYDRA would benefit greatly from this legislation, since it would curtail the freedom of superheroes' ability to respond quickly. And even for those in the UN who might not be compromised by HYDRA, it's a power grab. And it's also a power grab for Ross.

When Rhodey brings up Ross's medal of honor, have Sam point out (as he does in thehollowprince's fix-it) that a Congressional Medal of Honor doesn't mean shit, and comes off with Ross like a white man being rewarded for doing a subpar job. (Also, have someone remind Rhodey that the Accords would've prevented him and Tony from rescuing the President of the United States from Aldrich Killian had they been in place at the time of Iron Man 3, especially seeing as the Vice President was also in Killian's circle.)

I'd cut Vision's whole BS equation entirely. Instead, I'd have him on the side of Team Cap for this movie, and logic, "The number of potentially world-ending events has risen at a commensurate rate. Oversight is not an idea that can be dismissed out of hand, but the form that is being given to us by Ross is one that makes me calculate that the next world ending event has a likelier chance of succeeding.” (Vision's reason for being on Team Cap here is partly because he cares for Wanda, but mostly because he views himself as human, and the way Ross just dehumanized Thor and the Hulk by likening them to nukes makes Vision think Ross would view him the same way; this would actually be consistent with the will he has in WandaVision where he wished not to be turned into a living weapon, the very will that Tyler Hayward disregarded. On top of which, he realizes that he, Wanda, and Steve would be the most severely impacted by the Accords because they seem to be harsher on those who have innate superpowers than those who have removable suits.)

Have an instance or two of Tony being called out on his America centrism. Particularly when he brings up Charlie Spencer's death. In response to that, I'd have Wanda snap at him with a bit of pure rage. Why would I have Wanda do this? Because he's basically ignoring all the Sokovian citizens who died, up to and including Wanda's brother. "And what about my brother, hmm? What about Pietro? Remember him? Does his death matter to you, Mr. Stark? Or do you not give a shit about him because he's not American?"

Use Ross's antics from The Incredible Hulk to posit that Ross or HYDRA or any party with nefarious intentions could use the clause about demanding enhanced give up blood samples so they could use said DNA to create their own army of super soldiers.

Peggy's funeral, UN bombing, pursuit of Bucky

There's few changes here. But one change I would make is that Steve wouldn't just go with Sam to bring in Bucky. I'd have Wanda and Vision brought along too, because after a serious discussion, they think that the best way to salvage Wanda's reputation with the public is to have her going out to do heroism in public. When they get to where Bucky is hiding out, they bring him in, and Wanda gets to use her telepathic powers to render unconscious some of the SWAT forces sent to bring Bucky in. Then T'Challa joins the pursuit, and they are all captured in the tunnel.

Wanda meets Zemo and T'Challa

We then have the whole setpiece at the detention center where Bucky is detained. Natasha is firmly on Team Cap's side, but is taking a neutral stance to gain dirt on the other side. In addition to all the canon interactions, we also have Wanda interacting with T'Challa and recognizing his revenge quest because she still remembers very well what it was like for her last year wanting revenge against the Avengers, and how badly that ended for her. She empathizes with T'Challa and tries to persuade him to look at the bigger picture, not with much success. When Zemo infiltrates the facility to activate Bucky's Winter Soldier programming, Wanda goes down with Steve to subdue him and ends up encountering Zemo. She recognizes him because she knew his wife and son before they died, she once met him at the dedication of one of the memorials to the victims of Ultron's attack, and he's got a reputation in Sokovia as a killer.

Airport battle

The airport battle obviously is very different. Tony has Rhodey, Spider-Man, T'Challa, and a few other superheroes (or maybe Ross's special forces are there as backup). While Steve has Bucky, Scott, Clint, Wanda, Natasha, Sam, and Vision. This airport battle plays out more in Steve's favor, and despite Tony's efforts, everyone on Steve's side makes it to the quinjet and flees to Siberia with him.

Siberia final act

Steve and his team enter the HYDRA base, and make it to the containment area where the other Winter Soldiers were kept on ice, and have been all put down by Zemo. The fact that the Winter Soldiers are already dead, all shot in the head with a pistol, makes Steve surmise that they're walking into a trap.

They've barely had time to acknowledge this when Team Iron Man arrives and corners them. At this point, Steve is fed up with Tony for having such flawed judgement, and T'Challa still very much is on the warpath against Bucky. But as the two sides prepare to clash once again, Zemo chooses this moment to reveal himself. He wasn't exactly expecting to have an entire Avengers team there, but he's willing to improvise. Zemo even tries to liken his crusade to Wanda's misguided revenge campaign, only for her to shut him down by pointing out that she never wanted innocent people to get hurt, whereas Zemo did murder innocent people for his crusade (T'Challa's father and everyone else at the UN; the doctor that he killed and stole the identity of to get into the detention center to activate Bucky). After that, Zemo plays the surveillance footage of Bucky killing Tony's parents.

The moment Steve and Natasha realize what the footage is showing, Steve gestures for the others on his team to get Bucky away from Tony. Rhodey also realizes that Tony's preparing to attack Bucky, and tries to reason with him, but to no avail. Steve doesn't want Zemo to win, so he clarifies that he didn't know it was the Winter Soldier that HYDRA used to kill Tony's parents. This only enrages Tony further, and a nervous Natasha admits that she was also there when Zola told Steve this information.

In that split second, all hell breaks loose. Tony's rage boils over and he shoots Natasha with one repulsor, throwing her backwards and knocking her out. He tries to shoot Bucky with the other, but Rhodey is able to grab his hand and deflect the blast away from Bucky.

A fight ensues. Like in canon, T'Challa is the one who captures Zemo, though he also has some help from Scott, Spider-Man, and maybe Clint. Meanwhile, the other Avengers are left either fighting Tony, protecting Bucky, or both. With a fight that basically plays out as a mix of "the Guardians plus Iron Man, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange vs. Thanos on Titan" and a bit of "Payback vs. Soldier Boy from The Boys".

Ultimately, the Avengers still in the bunker succeed in taking down Tony, but Natasha, Rhodey and Bucky take severe injuries in the process. The fight ends when Wanda leaps on Tony from behind and uses her powers to attempt to disorient him, giving Steve an opening to smash his arc reactor with his shield. Vision then tears it out of the armor for good measure.

The Avengers effectively turn their backs on Tony Stark, and the movie ends with them as a whole condemning his misguided actions as well as condemning the Sokovia Accords, and taking the unified position, "After the events that happened in the course of pursuing the person responsible for bombing the UN in Vienna, the Avengers have elected to reject the Sokovia Accords, although we are open to alternative forms of oversight if the UN is willing to negotiate with us and also purge their ranks of anyone who might have ties to HYDRA." They also make publicly condemn Tony for trying to murder Bucky out of misplaced anger. Vision and Wanda settle down in Westview, Clint and Scott return to their families, though they'll still meet up with Steve, Sam, Natasha and Bucky for missions, and Natasha still meets up with Yelena and her old spy "family" to destroy the Red Room.

This then segues into another movie that's about Steve and his team of Avengers (Sam, Natasha, and occasionally Wanda, Vision, and Clint) going around the United States doing everything to get the Accords struck down and Ross removed from office for his abuses of power (especially since while the UN's been forced to let them go, the Raft is a walking human rights violation that no one should be locked up in for any reason).

[hitchell-mope]

Some unpopular MCU opinions.

As always. If you don’t like what I have to say. Block me. It’ll save us both a lot of time.

I’m okay with Yelena. But I do think she suffers from the villain of Black Widow being Drakov and not Madame B. And she still needs to apologise to Clint.

Be honest. If Mobius had been a Loki variant or if Tom Hiddleston has snogged Tom Hiddleston in a dress or Richard E Grant or American accented Tom Hiddleston. Would you have cried foul about Loki falling for himself?

As villains I think Ikaris and Wanda are better than Karli, Agatha and John Walker combined. Obviously Ikaris shouldn’t have won. But Wanda should have. She should’ve gotten her children back and turned Stephen Strange to atoms.

I find it….trite and hypocritical….that people who say the MCU has no substance and is only quips and explosions think Waititi is the cure and not the ailment.

Thaddeus fuckdamn Ross is the villain of civil war. Not Steve. Not Tony. Thaddeus.

Peter B Parker and Miles Morales should’ve been in no way home instead of McGuire and Garfield. Because at least I can stomach their presence.

They should be casting other actors for MCU xmen not just falling back on nostalgia. They’re not bringing back Gruffud and Alba so why Jackman, Stewart and Grammer? I just hope they don’t bring magneto back. I can’t stand that bastard.

I love steggy. I love Steve’s ending. But if he had stayed. He should’ve gotten with either Wanda or Sam. Or both. It might have changed things for the better.

Sarahbucky should happen in the new Sam Wilson movie. It’s what they both deserve.

Kirby and Quinn should retain their natural British accents as Susan and Johnny Storm if they can do that for Attwell, De Caestecker and Henstridge I don’t see why they can’t do that did them. More natural British accents in American movies I say.

[unhingedmarvelandclassicwhobuff]

Yeah it would make more sense for Sam, Clint, Wanda and Scott to continue fighting until they could get away. They then kill Ross's men who show up to arrest them, then steal another plane to follow Steve and Bucky to Siberia. Then after capturing Zemo, they use him as a bargaining chip to leverage their freedom.

Killing Ross's men would have been a terrible idea, because he could just use that against them. "Look at what those monsters did to my innocent men. We need the Accords to make it legal to give these terrorists what they deserve!"

That said, I agree, and I fully buy into the idea that Tony had all of them forcibly subdued.

[hersheysmcboom]

Mcu writers: you ingrates, YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW TALENT!

Fans: NO TALENT!! NO TALENT!!

[hitchell-mope]

The Sokovia Accords were put into place by a megalomaniac who hated and wanted to imprison Bruce Banner on trumped up charges.

[unhingedmarvelandclassicwhobuff]

In other ways to rewrite the airport battle, one I've sometimes felt would work would be:

A) Steve refuses to leave any of his team behind in Leipzig. So he and Bucky swing the quinjet around to scoop up their teammates (and Natasha), then leave.

B) The battle is unchanged. But when Ross's men arrive to capture Sam, Clint, Wanda and Scott, those four proceed to kill all of Ross's forces and then commandeer another plane. Then they go to Siberia.

Swinging back around would have been foolhardy, as it would have given Tony the opening he needed to bring down the Quinjet and detain all of them. I hate it, but it's the truth.

Your other alternative would just give Ross more ammo to use against Team Cap; "I ordered my men not to use lethal force against those terrorists, and all of them were killed! The Rogue Avengers are monsters and we need the Accords!"

I wish things could have been different, but Tony's stubbornness was the Avengers' undoing.

[howtheworldcouldb]

Trying to navigate any Marvel-related tag on AO3 without bumping into a thousand “Tony has done nothing wrong ever and look at how miserable Evil Steve is” is a nightmare and I hate it here

[dappercat123]

Just read the latest hulk and did they really have to get rid of Ross’ mustache just for MCU synergy? It’s his most iconic fucking look! He looks naked without it!

It also has him being like a badass special forces guy taking out arms dealers and terrorists which I guess is kind of accurate to Ross? At least in his heyday. But in my mind he’ll always be the old white guy obsessed with killing or capturing the hulk who is a literal child, and loses that fight.

Also laughed my ass off at the idea ross has “discretion”, the man is as subtle as a plane crash.

No idea what the fuck dr doom would ever want with him though, if I had to guess this I’d more MCU synergy nonsense and my ideas for good things they could do with Ross that definitely won’t happen seems pretty accurate.

I just want him to get his ass kicked by the real hulk again at least once!

[margoshansons]

Actually you know what? I think a Black Captain America fighting against an evil Red President is exactly what the US needs right now

[hersheysmcboom]

The best part is when they inngoge the actual beacons of privilege: I.e the billiaroire and the milllaity and then government white guy who was able to lead an invasion into a foreign town and then sick a crazed soldier onto Harlem as well as run an illegal experiment and was still able to become Secretary of State, the guy might as be a Republican!

The idea that people think Steve Rogers is some beacon of privilege is so strange to me. He was conceptualized as the antithesis of all that — a disabled, poverty stricken son of Irish Catholic immigrants (not a big deal now, but they faced a lot of xenophobia back then). Of course, Steve did have certain privileges such as being white (sure, he likely faced xenophobia, but let's be real he could easily pass for not being Irish if he wanted), but the idea that he would be on board with bigotry is laughable. Sure, he may have some internalized biases to work through — we all have that. But he'd still be against bigotry in all its forms.

Steve Rogers didn't become Captain America because he blindly follows the whims of the American government. Actually, he's shown that he refuses to do that on several occasions. He became Captain America because he wanted to help the little guy, the people who were being bullied. There is no doubt in my mind that he would stand up against bigotry every chance he got.

[dalekofchaos]

Round 1

Context for choice 8

MCU tends to introduce villains with good motivations and reasons on why they do what they do. See Killmonger and Karli

“Oh no the guys who are supposed to be villains are making too much sense! Gotta have them do something unforgivable so we can keep them as the villains!”

All the while they are only lenient on HYDRA actual fucking Nazis while more harsh towards minorities with legit grievances

[curtvilescomic]

Captain America Brave New World - spoiler-free review

So yesterday february 11th 2025 there was a press screening of Captain America Brave New World

Fourth Captain America film ( or as my friend, also at this screening, says Captain America Civil War is"Avengers 2,5")

It is also a return to form. For a while it was Disney/Marvel strategy to flood the market with movies and series with little or no overlap as in"phase one" and " phase two". This movie brings a new character you will see at some point. Maybe. But not the ones you saw in the movie before this.

This requires seeing the following: all three previous Captain America movies, all four Avengers movies, both Black Panthers, Black Widow, Eternals, the Incredible Hulk and miniseries Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Andrew Mackie is the new Captain America and plays the role well enough. Harrison Ford is really good as Thaddeus"Thunderbolt" Ross.

Effects are ok and while there are issues with the script they are marginal compared to norm. This is a superheroes take on a political thriller. Less Spider-Man, more Sicario, Tom Clancy adaptation and a certain fifties cold war movie redone in 2000s.

And this will divide audiences. The political aspects are current. Some will shout about wokeness and anti-american values and some on female Mary Sue. And yes, guns and blades do NOT work like that. It is a superhero movie.

It is a tight movie, filling many gaps left by other MCU outings.

I like this. Captain America is the most well-made and internally logical series by Marvel. The steepe " need to have seen these" is in my opinion the biggest stumbling block.

[irondadfics]

Hi! I love your blog!

I’ve been searching for a fic but that I haven’t been able to find. In this fic all the avengers get like a trainer, if I’m not mistaken assigned by shield. Peter’s agent is really mean and physically abusive, but he thinks they’re all like that. I don’t remember anything else except he asks the team if they like their trainers and if I’m not mistaken Clint says that is is a pain in the ass

Thank you so much for your help!

sorry for the long wait. Could this possibly be your fic?

Trust Your Senses by spidey__kay

With the UN and the Avengers unable to come to a compromise on the Sokovia Accords, Thaddeus Ross takes matters into his own hands. Now instead of being controlled by a UN board, each Avenger has their own handler. They all hate their handlers, but Peter’s handler is cruel and anti-superhero. He punishes Peter daily, and soon those punishments turn to physical abuse.  Peter is strong. He’s Spider-Man, after all. But can he keep himself from crumbling when his handler is determined to beat him down?

[sjsmith56]

Reprieve - A Private Man, Chapter 13

Summary: Ross and his associates make another attempt to take Bucky but Rebecca’s phone call pays off as he is stopped. The resurrection of the Avengers is brought up but Bucky’s reaction confuses everyone.

Length: 4.2 K

Characters: Bucky, Tracey, Rebecca, Thaddeus Ross, Rhodey, Sam, Joaquin, Janice.

Warnings: Thaddeus Ross, Bucky’s self doubt.

Author’s notes: I know that you’re thinking “Again? Ross is trying again?” The man is persistent and single minded. This isn’t the end but he does back off for a while. I originally wrote this story before the Thunderbolts announcement came out with the news that Thaddeus Ross would be President in the next Captain America movie. I had a choice to change my story to fit that announcement or to continue with my plot and story line. I chose the latter. Thaddeus Ross will never be President in this story.

<<Chapter 12

Bucky wasn't sure if he should go to work the next day, being unwilling to leave the women without protection but Rebecca, who was sitting in the kitchen when he got up told him that the police were just a phone call away, as were Matt and Foggy. With several of the neighbours around as well she convinced Bucky that it would be alright. Reluctantly he went to work as soon as Samira arrived. It never even occurred to him until he was en route to work that Rebecca got up unassisted by herself. When he arrived at the dock he clocked in and went to the office he shared with the other supervisors. His boss, Rick, was in there.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked. "Saw that shit go down on TV yesterday. What's that Ross's complaint with you?"

Bucky scowled and let out a breath. "He wants me to be an assassin again. He's starting up a black ops version of the Avengers and wants me in it. I won't do it and he's threatened me, my sister and my girlfriend over it."

"Jesus, Bucky," he said, looking past him at all the others. "You need a lawyer or something?"

"No, I have a good one but thanks," said Bucky. "I just want to do my job, and get through the day." He looked at everyone. "I appreciate the concern but really, I just want to do my job."

"Okay," said Rick, with understanding. "You're a good man and I don't want you to think we don't appreciate you. We'll back you up if you need it. But today, it's work as usual."

He used the opportunity to go over the ships still in dock, waiting for loading to be completed, and ships that were expected to dock that day. After he left, Bucky and the other supervisors went over the assignments then broke to meet up with their crews. When lunch time came he stayed at his desk after one of the other supervisors agreed to bring back some lunch for him. For a time he looked at his phone then finally dialled Tracey. She answered on the third ring.

"Hi," he said. "How's it going? Has Ross or Fontaine showed up at the house?"

"No, but Mom and I had to go to court for the protection order," she replied. "It's been granted and a police car will escort Mom and me at any moment to go to the house. I arranged for a truck rental. Amina's husband and brother-in- law will meet us there with it and help Mom take out what she wants. We'll put everything into a storage locker until she gets herself settled. How are you?"

"I didn't want to leave but Rebecca got up early and told me to go to work," he said. "She got up by herself. I didn't even think of that until I was on my way here. She can be very persuasive. I just have a feeling that Ross is going to try again and it's going to be hard not to react to it."

"I know, I feel the same," replied Tracey. "Hey, I have to go. The police are here. I'll see you later. It'll be alright, Bucky. I love you."

"I love you, too," he replied.

He ate his lunch while doing paperwork then headed back out to the dock to make sure that everything was going the way it should. All throughout the afternoon he couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehensive anticipation that something was going to happen and he just hoped it wouldn't be where people would be put into danger. When quitting time came around he clocked out and began the walk to the house. He wasn't aware of being followed or monitored but he still couldn't shake the sense that something was going to happen.

When he arrived back home there was a window repair truck parked in front of the house. Bucky went into the side yard and saw a man fixing the window.

"Hi, are you Tom's son's friend?" he asked.

The man looked at him, puzzled. "No, I don't know who Tom is," he said, then he pulled a work order out of his back pocket. "I received a pre-paid work order to fix a basement window for a James Barnes. Your wife showed me the window. Someone tried to break in? They did a real number on the frame but I'll have it finished in about 10 minutes. When it's done I'll knock on the door and you can sign off on it."

Confused, Bucky went into the house where Tracey, Rebecca, and Janice were all sitting in the living room.

"Who sent the window repair guy?" he asked. Tracey shrugged but Rebecca and Janice smiled at each other. "What are you two grinning about?"

"It's a surprise," said Rebecca. "I phoned someone in the government yesterday, and made an official complaint about Thaddeus Ross and Val de Fontaine. They said they would look into it. The repairman showed up about an hour ago."

"Rebecca, who did you phone?" asked Bucky, feeling uneasy.

"I'll tell you soon," she said. "Don't worry, we're not in trouble."

The repairman knocked on the door and both Bucky and Tracey went out to look at the replaced window. He offered the work order for Bucky to sign off and packed up his toolkit, leaving the yard. As the couple prepared to go back inside there was the sound of a commotion from the front yard. Frowning at Tracey, Bucky walked along the side of the house to the front. Ross was back with several of his men. A number of the neighbours were standing in a line blocking him from entering the yard. Tracey phoned the police while Bucky approached the group.

"Already breaking the injunction?" asked Bucky. "For a man with your standing you sure do like to play loose with the law. Your guys wrecked lights I had strung up in the back yard so I guess vandalism isn't beyond you either."

"The injunction is already quashed," said Ross. "I'm here on official government business."

"Official government business for a black ops operation?" replied Bucky. "I doubt that very much."

"Doesn't matter, Barnes," retorted Ross. "This time you're coming with me."

There was the sound of several flying suits approaching and Bucky looked up to see Sam, Joaquin Torres and Colonel Rhodes descending from above. They landed just behind Bucky where Rhodes opened his face plate and strode forward, putting himself between Bucky and Ross.

"Sorry Thaddeus," he said. "I have my orders from the President himself. Your little act yesterday has put him in a very bad light. The media are all over how you're forcing a man into being a killer against his will. An official complaint over your behaviour and a threat made by Val de Fontaine has the President ordering you to stand down immediately and await the FBI to escort you to Washington."

Ross smirked. "I'm supposed to believe that?" he said. "That's rich coming from a retired paraplegic Air Force Colonel."

"No longer retired, and you've been relieved of any sort of legitimacy that you talked the President into granting you," replied Rhodes. "Fontaine is on very thin ice and so is the current Secretary of State for coming up with this plan. The FBI are on their way to take you into custody."

Right on cue several large black SUVs drove onto the street, followed by another news crew. The agent who took Bucky into custody previously stepped out of a vehicle and directed the other agents to take Ross's men then he approached the older man and showed him his badge.

"Agent Michael Quade. Mr. Ross, you are to come with me," he said solemnly. "The President has ordered that you be taken into custody, pending charges."

"What charges?" demanded Ross. "I haven't done anything."

The agent sighed. "I'm only following orders, sir," he said. "I think what charges are filed depends on your actions now and in the near future. I will personally escort you to Washington for a meeting with the President to explain your actions." He turned to Bucky. "Has Mr. Ross and his associates injured you, your family, or your property?"

"They broke a window and the frame plus they cut the wires of lights I had strung up in the trees in the back yard," replied Bucky. "He also threatened to get my sister's health benefits cut off permanently, as well as deny me back pay for the years I was a POW. The window repairman just left but I don't know who sent him."

"They destroyed the lights?" asked Sam, disgusted. "What the hell for?"

The agent put his hand up. "So trespassing, property damage, and a violation of your sister's and your civil rights. Do I have that right, Mr. Barnes?"

"That's correct," said Bucky, looking Ross in the eye. "His associate Val de Fontaine also threatened my girlfriend's mother yesterday. Ross also threatened to take my house. He was just arrested yesterday for some of those actions and he's already back. Isn't that harassment?"

"Yes sir, it is," said the FBI agent, who shook his head. "I think the federal prosecutor might also consider your original arrest as harassment or perhaps the swearing out of false charges but that will be up to him. I will make a note of Ms. Fontaine's threats as she is a known associate. From where I stand Mr. Ross, you are just digging a deeper hole for yourself by refusing to come with me."

Ross sneered. "This isn't over Barnes," he said. "I will have you on my team and you will do as I order."

"No, I won't," replied Bucky. "Now go with the nice FBI agent."

The older man turned around angrily and went with the Agent Quade to the cheers and jeers of Bucky's neighbours. The reporter came up to Bucky again.

"Busy couple of days," he said. "What would you like to say?"

Looking with affection at Sam, Joaquin and Rhodes, then at his neighbours he cleared his throat. "I say thanks to my friends here and my neighbours for having my back. We should have a barbecue to celebrate."

With another cheer several of the neighbours went to get food and beer while Bucky went into the house followed by Rhodes, Sam and Joaquin, who all shed their suits inside. Bucky introduced everyone to the others who hadn't yet met. Joaquin gave Rebecca a hug and a kiss as it had been a while since they last saw each other.

"So how did you know what was happening?" asked Bucky. "I mean, Colonel you're in Washington, Sam was supposed to be in New Orleans and I don't know where you were Joaquin. How did you get here so soon after Ross was released?"

"That business yesterday ended up live on Washington TV and the President watched it," said Rhodes. "He was then phoned by a certain senior citizen who impressed upon him the potential miscarriage of justice that was certain to happen under his watch. He was horrified at Ross for trying to force you onto his team, and trying to force you to kill again. He called Fontaine to ask what gave her the right to threaten the mother of your girlfriend. She gave up the Secretary of State when she admitted they both gave Ross the green light to get you any way he could. I told him about the Wakanda plan that your lawyer phoned me about, and he hit the roof that they would even consider violating the sovereignty of a country considered an ally. Told me to come here and intervene. We phoned the police station, found out they made bail earlier and it didn't take much to figure out he would try again. Ross never did know when to stand down. I called Cap and Falcon, Wong gave us each a portal and we met up over Manhattan." He looked at Rebecca with a smile. "You're trouble, in a good way. How did you ever get them to connect you with the President?"

"I just told the truth," said Rebecca. "Told them who I was and that I wasn't going to sit back and watch Ross force my brother into being a killer against his will. I said the President was the one who pardoned him and that made him responsible for cleaning up this mess."

Rhodes looked with admiration at the older woman. "You did good. He wasn't aware of a lot of what they were up to. I brought up about Buck's pardon being conditional and how Ross was manipulating it to present Buck as still violent. It's being updated to a full pardon. No one and nothing can change that ever."

Bucky looked at his younger sister with disbelief. "You phoned the President?"

She and Janice laughed. "You were so upset yesterday when you saw they had vandalized the lights that I had to try something. I looked up the phone number of the White House and I wouldn't take no for an answer. They finally put me through to the President and I told him everything that happened. He wasn't very happy about what Ross and Fontaine had done and promised he would take care of things."

The doorbell rang with the first of the neighbours to bring food and Bucky went with him to the back yard to start up the barbecue. Within an hour the back yard was full of people from the neighbourhood, eating, drinking, and getting to know everyone else. When a delivery man showed up with new fairy lights courtesy of the President several neighbours got up to help replace the damaged ones. The lights came on as it got darker which drew admiring looks from the neighbours who talked about doing it in their own yards. Gradually as the night went on people began to leave promising to be better neighbours to Bucky, Tracey, and Rebecca. They shook hands with everyone before they left. Finally, it was just them, Janice, Rhodes, Sam, and Joaquin.

"Is there a hotel nearby?" asked Rhodes. "I don't fancy flying in the dark after what I've had to drink."

"I have a couch in the living room and a couch in the basement," said Bucky. "Janice is using the bed. They're yours if you're all okay with one of you sleeping on the floor. I'll make everyone breakfast in the morning."

"Janice can sleep with me if she doesn't mind sharing a bed with an old woman," piped up Rebecca. "I don't snore."

"Yeah, I'm good with that," replied Janice. "We can just switch out the sheets on the bed."

"I call shotgun on the bed, then," said Rhodes, with a grin.

Bucky carried Rebecca into her bedroom then left her in the care of Tracey while he got bedding and pillows for the two couches while Janice made up the bed downstairs. He could hear her and Rhodes talking and laughing as they made the bed together. There was definitely some flirting going on. She came upstairs with her night clothes and a change of clothes for the following day.

"What a nice man Rhodey is," she said, looking vibrant. "He must be a good friend to you, Bucky. He thinks very highly of you."

"He is a good man," replied Bucky. "He's been very supportive the last few months."

After kissing Rebecca good night he and Tracey left Janice in her bedroom and went out to the living room where Sam was wearing a pair of Bucky's sweat pants and a T-shirt.

"Quite the day," said his partner. "You have good neighbours. I saw several of them talking with the news crew and they all said your presence in the neighbourhood makes them feel safer, especially since that robbery."

Bucky smirked. "Only took a year to get to know them," he replied. "I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't been for Tracey and Rebecca. They make me a better man."

"You're one of the good ones," stated Tracey, grasping his hand. "I knew that as soon as I met you. Sam, thanks for coming with the others to back him up. It means a lot."

"Anytime," smiled Sam. "Now, if you don't mind I'm going to stretch out on my luxurious 4 star couch and catch some shuteye."

After saying goodnight to him they went to their room and cuddled together. Both were tired after the stress and then long evening entertaining. Just before he fell asleep Bucky thought of something that Rhodes said, that he wasn't retired anymore. Whatever did he mean by that?

The following morning Bucky was up at his usual time. After heading out to the mailbox and noticing no discarded cigarette butts he returned into the house and started the coffee. Sam woke up shortly after and Bucky offered him a cup. They both sipped from their coffee then Bucky looked at Sam.

"What did Rhodes mean that he isn't retired any more?" he asked.

"Did he? I didn't notice. Maybe he's been named to be an advisor to the President or something. Come to think of it he seemed to really enjoy what happened to Ross yesterday."

As the others started getting up Bucky phoned the docks to say he would be in later. The dock manager, Rick, was already in and told Bucky he watched the previous day's events on the news. Whatever time Bucky needed to do what he needed to do was fine with him, his exact words. With thanks Bucky hung up and began making breakfast for everyone. When everything was ready he put the food out on the kitchen counter and everyone helped themselves before sitting at the dining room table. For several minutes there was no talking then Bucky finished chewing and looked at Rhodes.

"What did you mean that you're not retired anymore?" he asked.

"Yeah, what's with that?" asked Sam. "They giving you a position on the Joint Chiefs or something?"

"No, the President put me in command of something else." Rhodey paused, smiling. "He wants me to head up resurrecting the Avengers, pending amendments to the Sokovia Accords. I told him I wouldn't consider it unless the Accords are fixed. Ross deliberately made them too restrictive to allow the Avengers to do the job properly. It looks like he wanted them to fold years ago so he could get control of us as his assets. We'll talk more but there's a place for all three of you, if you want it."

"I can't," said Bucky, quickly and quietly. "My place is here, with Rebecca and Tracey."

"Nonsense," said Rebecca. "I'm much better and I have the personal care aides. With Tracey living here we can make it work."

"But you need to have someone here at night with you," replied Bucky. "I can't ask Tracey to assume that responsibility if I'm not here. It wouldn't be fair to her."

Tracey started to speak and Bucky abruptly left the table, heading out to the back yard. Rhodes looked distressed.

"Listen, it's all in a preliminary stage of planning," he said. "It would be months before we even made anything official and that's only if the Accords are modified. I thought he would be happy about this."

"It's what he once wanted," said Tracey, quietly, watching the back door. "But he accepted that it wasn't going to happen and when Rebecca had her stroke it made the decision to stay and work a regular job easier for him. I think he likes living a private life now. He feels normal, likes his job, he has good benefits with it, and he's part of the community with his volunteer work at the newcomer centre. Now, it's like you're asking him to give that up for a job that would be irregular at best. It would take him away from Rebecca."

"And you," said Joaquin, deliberately. "He's very much in love with you. Even I can see it."

"I wouldn't hold him back," protested Tracey, then she looked again at the back door and stood up.

Putting her jacket on and taking Bucky's with her she went out to the back yard. Bucky was sitting on one of the chairs under the pergola. She approached him in the crisp morning air, putting his jacket over his shoulders. He took one of her hands and kissed it then sat back. Tracey sat on his lap.

"You wouldn't have to ask," she said softly. "I've already committed to you and Rebecca is part of that commitment by my choice. Rhodes said it would be months before they got anything off the ground."

"I know," replied Bucky. "I just don't know if I want to do it anymore. I like working at the docks. I like living in this house with you and Rebecca. I like my life here. It's normal."

"That's important to you," she replied. "I get that. Do you remember when we first met? I asked you about the Avengers, why they weren't together. You said the decision about them was someone else's responsibility. You admitted you were good at doing what the Avengers do but that was as far as you would go, as if you had reservations about doing that. Rebecca thought being an Avenger would give you a higher purpose."

Bucky smirked lightly. "Fighting the Flag Smashers came easily enough. I tried to tell Karli, the young woman who was their leader, that she was going down a dark path but she wouldn't listen to me, even though I had been on that same path. What kind of Avenger would I be if people didn't take me seriously enough to learn from my experiences? I was the Winter Soldier, a killer who always got his target. Maybe that's how they'll always see me. That's how Ross and Fontaine still see me."

She drew his head into her chest, feeling his gloom. "I think if you became an Avenger you would have more control over how you're seen," she said. "What was it the Wakandans called you? White Wolf? You could make that your code name. On your downtime you could still live here, maybe even continue to work at the docks, definitely volunteer at the newcomer centre. Imagine the kids there, seeing you walk in, knowing that you had helped rescue hostages, or helped take down a terrorist group. You could be their local hero, even more than you already are."

"What about us?" he asked. "You wouldn't want a part-time boyfriend, or husband. Not after how your ex treated you when he went on the road."

"You're not Geoff," stated Tracey emphatically. "You're so much more. Yes, I would miss you but I trust you and think our reunions would be incredible. I have my job and it fulfills me. Don't make me the reason you decide not to do this. Be involved in the planning and see what the government is willing to do. If it's better than what the docks give you then seriously consider it. If it's not, then continue to live a normal life, just like all the rest of us."

Her hands had been stroking his back and shoulders while she was talking and she could feel his demeanour change from very tense to more relaxed. When she finished her piece Bucky sighed then wrapped his arms around her waist.

"You're very persuasive Nurse Harris," he murmured. "I'll consider it, put my two cents worth in and see where it goes from there. Regardless of how it goes with the Avengers there's something that I want to ask you."

"What's that?"

"Would you marry me?

He looked up at her, his blue eyes fixed on hers. She looked upon his upturned face, at his strong jaw and cheekbones, his ever present five o'clock shadow, and his soft lips which were slightly parted as he waited on her answer.

"Yes, in a New York minute I would marry you," she answered.

Forever more she would remember his soft loving look at hearing her answer. It would always be recalled by her as the moment she completely committed to the first man she ever truly loved. Bucky would always remember the sun lighting up her hair and the beautiful smile she had on her face when she said those words. It was the day he finally and completely felt like a good man.

Chapter 14>>

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[breckstonevailskier]

Reblogging for the tags.

what misconception? 👀

I assume this is about the Civil War post I made and oh boy, so many. So, so many. Let me preface this by saying I actually like Civil War enough as a movie. Not as a Captain America movie, but it's engaging and I enjoyed it for the most part. I mostly dislike the dogshit opinions about it. To prevent this from turning into a dissertation, I'll just list the ones that come to mind first/irritate me the most:

"Steve was completely against regulation and oversight" WRONG. He was against the vagueness of it all. He explicitly says that he wants to know whose going to be holding his leash if he has to have one. In fact, he was about to sign the Accords before Tony told him about them preemptively enforcing it and detaining Wanda. Steve was willing to consider the Accords, Steve was trying to discuss the Accords, Steve was on the path to being open to the Accords before the moral failings of it were already shining through. Steve, rightfully so, is distrustful at this point of anonymous authority. Following the news that Hydra had their nasty paws in SHIELD and other high positions in government, Steve decides that he wants to know more about the people who have authority over him. Seems reasonable enough.

"Steve was only against the Accords for Bucky" WRONG. 1) Before he was certain that Bucky was being framed, he says that he has the best chance of bringing him in to minimize damage. Then, when he was certain Bucky was innocent, it became a matter of not letting his bestie be falsely imprisoned and/or killed on the spot. 2) Lemme just add on that Steve would have still been against the Accords if Bucky wasn't a factor. I need people to understand this. It wasn't just a "oh no I need to save my best friend". 3) If you read what was in the Accords, you'd understand why Steve would generally be against them. They're abhorrent.

"Steve didn't read the Accords/Steve didn't even attempt to communicate or compromise." I haaaaattttteeee this one with a burning passion. Did we watch the same movie? He's quite literally the only one on screen we see even look at that long ass document. Probably also the only one would could even manage to read the thing since it was sprung up on them 3 days before the meeting (which is a whole 'nother issue for later. For now, I'll just say I support the Ross conspiracy theory). He also tried to tell Tony & Co. before the airport fight that Zemo was the one behind all this conflict, that Bucky is innocent and about the 5 other ultra-dangerous super-soldiers who, as far as he knew, were about to be unleashed onto the world which would be disastrous. Unfortunately, Team IM was wracked with tension and didn't listen and attacked.

"Steve and Bucky jumped Tony (+ variants of this statement)." This is one that confused me so much. Such a bullshit take. I am begging people to rewatch CW and watch the fight. Tony, whose emotions is dialed to a thousand (and not only because of the Bucky thing mind you, but I can talk about that a lot more later because I like talking about Tony's emotional/mental state during Civil War) attacked first, then tries to kill Bucky, Steve tries to get Tony to stop killing Bucky, Tony is trying not to kill Steve, Bucky is trying to get Tony not to kill Steve or him. It's a mess. Mind you, Steve isn't even trying to excessively harm Tony in this scene. It's confirmed that during the entire fight, he was trying to disable the suit. Not trying to beat Tony to a pulp - DISABLE. THE. SUIT. Which he manage to do in the midst of that shitshow.

"*insert any anti-CW Wanda take*" Please, someone please tell me why people think Wanda has any blame for what happened Lagos? Wanda quite literally didn't CAUSE that. I need to understand this point of view before I get an aneurysm. She didn't make the bomb, bring the bomb, set the bomb off. It was Rumlow who had that bomb that would have ended up killing way more people on the ground than where Wanda managed to put it. She absolutely was as much of a hero as she could be in that instance, trying to redirect the bomb away from civilians. Unfortunately, it still ended it casualties, but a lot less than it would have been if Wanda hadn't intervened.

I could go on and on, but I'll stop here. Fanon CACW quite literally has some of the worst fan comprehension I've seen in the MCU. I imagine that a lot of it is not understanding characters, the movie not elaborating on important plot points in an effort to make it 50/50 (which they failed at lol), and the fandom being a lot more conservative than I thought. I can expand further on anything if you want!