After a moment of silence, Tony spoke.
"Then we won't sign."
The others exchanged glances and agreed one after another.
They hadn't wanted politicians overseeing them in the first place. They had only agreed to sign as a favor to Tony. Now that Hermione had spoken and Tony had thrown in the towel, why the hell would they sign?
Only Rhodey opened his mouth, then hesitated.
Just then, a notification chimed. Tony pulled out his phone and glanced at it, and his expression darkened.
He sighed and tapped the table. "JARVIS, repeat the message we just received."
"Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross has convened a closed-door meeting at the United Nations. The agenda includes declaring Rogers, Barnes, and their associates wanted fugitives."
JARVIS paused for half a second, then continued, "Representatives from 117 countries are currently in attendance, and three special forces units have been deployed outside the meeting room. Other reports indicate that Thaddeus Ross has publicly claimed to have confirmed that all remaining Avengers have signed the Wakanda Accords."
"I knew this would happen." Rhodey rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Thaddeus Ross won't give us a graceful way out."
Tony turned his head toward him.
Rhodey's voice grew graver. "Do you really think secretary of state is just a title? Military contracts, United Nations votes, national intelligence agencies-he can meddle in all of them now. And he holds the lifeline of a huge number of Stark Industries contracts. All he has to do is cut a few orders, and the stock price will take the first hit."
The dining room fell silent, and several pairs of eyes turned in unison toward the seat by the window.
Hermione twirled a curl around her fingertip, lifted her cup from the table, and sipped her black tea. A sheen of