#cwevent

He hates being on camera. Always has. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they used to parade him around as some ideal to achieve rather than let him fight, or maybe it’s just ‘cause Steve’s never had a thing for the limelight. Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter now. He’s swallowing that pill and forcing himself to speak his damn mind without some kind of response from Tony or anyone else getting in the way. Lights keep flashing, murmurs that filter through the air slowly dying out and the only sound left is his own breathing, his heart rumbling through his ears.  Placing his hands on either side of the podium, the Captain steadies himself, blue eyes casting absently to the group of reporters below him.

He agreed to do this for the kids, these words needed to be said here and now because after the Act was passed-----and he knows it will be---no one will be listening anymore. And he’s sure he’ll be a criminal in his own country that he’d fought so hard to keep out of filthy hands. Truth of the matter now was maybe she was always dirty, he doesn’t know, but in dark there’s still good and he’d lay his life down to prove it. Clearing his throat, he glances down at the vacant place where perhaps a paper or a stack of index cards should be. He lifts his gaze back to the cameras and takes one heavy breath. No going back now.

“If you’ve noticed, I didn’t come with any speech prepared. It’s not because I didn’t take the time to write one and flush out what I want to say to you today in my head, trust me I’ve done that over the course of every second in the last fourteen hours.” He pauses “I didn’t write anything down because this isn’t me speaking at you, this is me speaking to you as a person. An ally. I know a lot of people put me on this----this pedestal but so many forget that I am human. I wasn’t always Captain America. Before I became who I am today, I was just a kid from Brooklyn, lookin’ to help my country because it was my responsibility.” He paused again, shifting some.

“Now I know not everyone thinks that way, I know, I know.” He smiles halfheartedly, nodding as if amused. “Times are changing, I get it. I’m reminded of that daily every time I see a smartphone or put something in the microwave.” That received a slight chuckle, easing a bit of the tension in the air. “But this country is losing sight of who it is. It was founded on we the people, our founding fathers did not want one thing to rule us with an iron fist. Our Government does not run us, we run it. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them.” He urges to the crowd.

“I guess the question I impose to you is------who is the ‘country’? Is it the newspaper? Is it the pulpit? The local school superintendent? These are parts of this country, not all of it. Each and every one of us forms the Thousand that create our Country.  Now I keep being told that this Act is voted on by majority rules. And that’s true, we do a lot of things that way----its democracy. But let me explain something, when we vote for a President, the whole damn country decides. No one---of age---is left out of this decision. Stark is right, these kids, these mutants, we heroes, we are a minority. So my question to you is: who the hell gives the Majority the right to vote on our future? We don’t have mutants in the White House, they don’t have representation. We don’t have Mutants on Capitol Hill and in our Senate. This isn’t a vote, this is a declaration. They didn’t ask to be mutants no more than you asked to need glasses. But they’re making the most of it. Instead of sitting idly by while the world is put through tragedy after tragedy they are putting on a suit and laying down their lives so that your mothers, your fathers, your sisters, your brothers and your neighbors can keep living. And you want to punish for that? You want to call us ‘Heroes’ but you act like you don’t even know what that word means.” Steve can’t keep the compassion out of his voice, he’s done his best to sound neutral but Steve just doesn’t operate like that. He doesn’t sound angry, he doesn’t sound hateful, he sounds honest and like he believes every single word he lets pass from his own lips. He falls silent for a moment, inhaling slowly to let out an even exhale.

“I keep being told that this Act is supposed to help minimize death of innocents. And to that I say---“ he looks dead at the camera this time, his next words directed at Stark, he’s said it before and now he’s saying it again because it clearly didn’t sink in the first time. “-----every time someone tries to end a war before it starts, innocent people get hurt. Every time. We pick up our battles as they come not as we think we can predict them.” He shakes his head “I hate to break it to you but his act will not prevent death, this Act will not ensure your safety. All it will do is ensure the loss of your heroes. Now this Act doesn’t affect me directly, you all know who I am. But heroes like Spiderman don’t want their families put at risk for the way he spends his nights here in New York. What do you think is going to happen to our loved ones when our enemies get ahold of our information? We give up so much to fight for you all and you want to throw it in our faces. You want us to be held responsible for our actions? How about some of you start holding yourselves responsible for your own.” He nods pointedly.

“I’ve got a group of terrified kids feeling like the country is coming for them. The next time you want to throw fingers, the next time you want to pretend different is evil, why don’t you go ahead and recall the last time we segregated a bunch of people because they’re not the norm. We fight for you day in and day out, I don’t think it’s too much to ask, just this once, for you to do the same for us.” He has nothing left to say, nothing more to give to these people if they won’t listen to at least this.