Everyone seemed pretty eager to get a move on once Steve reported Bruce's news. While his return brought surprise to us all, his message had sobered us pretty quickly. There wasn't time to rejoice his return to Earth, we had work to do.

With urgency, we got to Scotland. Once we were there, we looked up Wanda's tracker. It wasn't the greatest of ideas, considering we were wanted and if someone else was looking for us they could try and trace us this way, but it was a big help.

Wanda wasn't stationary, she was on the move. And judging by how haphazardly she was moving, something was up.

Sam and I took to the skies; Natasha, Todd, and Steve all on the ground. Sam had the better tech for scouting, so I kept close by him. In the span of two years, I learned how to push some of my fire power out from my feet when I wore my suit. It made flying easier and it took some time to adjust. A sweet feature I hadn't discovered was the boots that I wore along with my suit—the flames couldn't touch them.

I made sure to never lose them.

"We're getting close, be ready," said Steve through comms. "Find anything up there, you guys?"

"Sam's working on it," I said. Scotland was quiet, we were seeking out the one spot that was being disrupted.

Wanda, I reached out. If you have a second, try and give us an idea as to where you are. We know Vision is in danger, we're here to help.

I received no answer.

I wasn't letting up. Wanda, hang in there, we're hurrying as best as we can. Defend Vision until we arrive. I hoped she got the messages and that she hadn't been...

"I've got eyes on Vision and Wanda," came Steve. "Move in."

"We're on our way," said Todd.

"Sam?" I asked.

"Working on it. Wait, there!" Sam pointed downwards.

I saw spots of Wanda's red magic in the shelter of a train station. She had Vision protected, who looked to be...in pain. Can androids feel pain? There were two figures opposing Wanda, both with lethal-looking weapons.

A train swept on by the tracks behind Wanda and Vision. It seemed everyone on the ground took notice of the distraction. Once it disappeared, one of the enemies threw their weapon, only to have it caught by Steve in the shadows.

"He certainly likes to make an entrance," Sam commented to me.

I chuckled. "That's my husband for you."

Simultaneously, Sam and I swooped into the fray, Sam colliding his feet with the female alien with blue skin. She got launched out of the battle area. I took the larger male alien, shooting fireballs his way until I could land, with assistance from Sam. As I got feet on the ground, Steve tossed the weapon that had tried to cut into him to Natasha, who ran in with Todd close on her heels. The alien swung for Natasha, to which she ducked, then stabbed the alien in the gut. She gave a flying kick, sending him backward.

Nat! Just as the female alien jumped back into the picture, I whipped out my two blades, catching them ablaze, meeting them to collide with the female alien's weapon. Her blue face twisted into a snarl at how our weapons met. I could thank Tony for these special wedding gifts.

Todd fired his gun, aiding me, but his bullets barely got to the female alien. I swung, ducked, parried. The female alien sent a kick to my abdomen, shuffling me backwards. Steve leapt in with another alien weapon, engaging her until I could get back into the fight.

As the male alien went to the ground, Sam intervened in my fight, kicking the female alien backwards towards her counterpart. He drew both pistols towards the two. I lowered my blades, letting the flames die on them.

"Get up," the female whispered to her counterpart.

"I can't."

"We don't wanna kill you," said Natasha coolly. "But we will."

The female's blue face twisted into anger. "You'll never get the chance again."

All heads snapped up as a blue light shone on the two. They shot up into the hands of a ship that we could see through a hole above, and the weapon Steve had borrowed disappeared up into the light as well. I retracted my blades, tucking them away. Another perk curtesy of Tony.

"You're a little rusty there," I told Todd.

"Not for nothing, but you're as mortal as me, Kiara. I don't want to shoot my best friend."

"I would've blocked the bullets."

"Like the last time you got shot at?"

I winced. "Low blow, my friend."

Once we were sure the aliens weren't coming back, the five of us approached Wanda and Vision. By android standards, Vision did not look well. That was something I didn't expect to see, let alone think.

"Can you stand?" Sam asked the android.

With a hand from Sam, Vision stood, arms around Sam and Wanda's shoulders. For an android, he looked like he took a hit or two. His red, green, and gold coloring shimmered, as though something was short-circuiting within him.

"Thank you, Captain," Vision said to Steve.

Steve nodded. "Let's get you on the jet."

With haste, we got back onto the quinjet. Wanda settled Vision somewhere he could sit.

"I thought we had a deal," said Natasha. The quinjet doors shut. "Stay close, check in. Don't take any chances."

"I'm sorry," said Wanda. While on the run, she had slowly learned to fade out her Sokovian accent. It lingered, but not as prominent as before. She'd also colored her hair to a strawberry blonde, a far cry from her dark locks. "We just wanted time."

"Where to, Cap?" asked Sam.

Steve and I exchanged a look. "Home."

* * *

"Things must be really bad if we're returning here," I murmured to Steve. The newer Avengers facility was in sight. It had felt like eons since I had last been here. My last visit had been to say goodbye to Todd.

"Bruce said to come here."

"Hopefully we'll get more insight. He's had time to calm himself down, I hope."

The task fell to Sam to help Vision inside of the facility. Steve and Natasha seemed to take lead, I fell in step beside Todd.

"Never thought I'd be coming back," he said, his eyes scanning the surroundings as if they were brand new.

"Tell me about it," I replied.

"Hey, whatever the scope of this is, I'm gonna pitch in."

"You don't need to say it aloud, I already know." Which worried me to no end. This wouldn't be like the rise of HYDRA within S.H.I.E.L.D. This wouldn't be when my powers went haywire. This wasn't going to be like Ultron. And this certainly wasn't going to be like the civil war we'd just endured two years ago. This was going to be another first of its kind.

Walking through the old halls brought flashes of memories to mind, most of them good. I wasn't sure what I was hoping for: to see Tony and Aria again? To not get arrested the second we're seen?

We found ourselves going in the direction of a voice—sometimes two—that we could hear.

"I remember your signature on those papers, Colonel," came a demanding, grim tone. It nagged in the back of my brain but I couldn't quite place it. It didn't sound like any of the core Avengers.

"That's right," came a second, bitter voice. That one I knew was Rhodey. My heart jumped in anxiety. "And I'm pretty sure I've paid for that."

"You having second thoughts?"

"Not anymore."

Almost on cue, we made our presence known. Rhodey had leg braces on—something I wasn't clued in on. He had looked fine the last time I had seen him. What happened after I'd left for Siberia with Steve and Bucky? The hologram he talked to—now I could remember him. The man who divided the Avengers via paperwork.

"Mr. Secretary," Steve greeted the hologram.

"You got some nerve. I'll give you that."

"You could use some of that right now," said Natasha.

"The world's on fire. And you think all is forgiven?"

"I'm not looking for forgiveness," said Steve. "And I'm way past asking for permission. Earth just lost her best defender. So we're here to fight. And if you wanna stand in our way...we'll fight you too."

The hologram looked to Rhodey. "Arrest them."

"All over it," said Rhodey. With a swipe of his hand, the hologram disappeared. "That's a court-martial. It's great to see you, Cap."

The two exchanged a hug. "You too, Rhodey." Natasha was next to receive a hug.

"Well. You guys really look like crap. Must've been a rough couple of years."

"Yeah, well, the hotels weren't exactly five star," said Sam.

"Uh, I think you look great," came a gentle voice.

Behind Rhodey, Bruce peeked himself into the room, Aria was near him.

"Uh...heh...Yeah. I'm back."

"Hi, Bruce," said Natasha.

"Nat."

"This is awkward," whispered Sam.

As small talk was made, I went to Aria and Bruce. Aria looked well, healthy, but her eyes told a tale of sadness.

"It really is good to see you, Bruce," I said. "I hate that this is how."

"When everyone parts way, we'll need to pull you aside," said Aria gravely. "There's something you need to hear."

"Not the team?"

Aria shook her head. "Just you."

I sensed more bad news on the horizon. "O-okay. We'll table it for another time, then."