No Tears | NR

Chapter 50

Avengers Compound, USA

War is not pretty. It leaves scars behind, physical and psychological ones. This reality was not new to Yara.

The Avengers who had survived Thanos' snap and Yara had returned to the compound a few days after the battle. The Wakandan science division, or what was left of it, had used Shuri's designs for Bucky's arm to build a prosthetic leg for Yara which the brunette was incredibly grateful for.

She and the Avengers had done their best to help the Wakandans in any way they could, but there hadn't been much left for them to do by the time that they left to return to the US. Most of the things that still had to be done needed to be solved internally by the African nation.

Throughout the past few days since the battle in Wakanda, Natasha had kept a close eye on Yara. The Avenger was worried that the brunette might have another panic attack. Although Yara tried to hide her emotions and was mostly successful in doing so, she couldn't fool Natasha no matter how hard she tried. Just like everyone else, she wasn't dealing well with the defeat against Thanos but at least, she didn't have any more panic attacks.

Yara had gone outside to get some air and do some work on her laptop. It was late and the sun had set a while ago. Trees were rustling in the light wind and a few small animals were making noises as they were running around in the grass in front of the compound. Other than that it was fairly quiet.

The screen on Yara's laptop had gone dark a while ago but she hadn't moved since. Her eyes were unfocused, staring out into the night as her mind was running wild. She had found herself doing this more now than she used to. In the past, she had usually broken out of this state somewhat quickly after it had begun but now, she sometimes stayed like this for an hour until something interrupted her. At least, she was dealing with everything that had happened and was happening in a less destructive way than Thor.

This time, a light managed to pull her out of it. All of a sudden, the light was just there in front of Yara. It took the brunette a moment to realize that it originated from a person, a woman to be specific. She had no idea where the stranger had come from or how she had come here, but she didn't really have time to ask either.

The woman didn't say a word and completely ignored Yara's presence as she made her way inside the compound. Yara scrambled to get her things and hurried after the blonde stranger, wanting to find out what was going on.

"Where's Fury?"

Yara caught up to the unfamiliar blonde in a room that was part of the compound's laboratory. Now that the light was brighter, Yara realized that the stranger was wearing some kind of red, blue, and golden suit. The blonde woman was facing Natasha with Steve and Rhodes behind her. None of them seemed to recognize the stranger.

Yara stopped behind her, effectively trapping her between the other Avengers and herself. A brief, uneasy silence spread throughout the room as the small group of Avengers and the lady in the suit were sizing each other up.

"Who are you?", Natasha spoke up while the others stayed quiet. It almost seemed like Steve and Rhodes were waiting for the former assassin to approve of the stranger before they would speak up.

"Carol Danvers", the blonde woman replied confidently, wisely deciding to oblige before asking again, where Fury was.

An almost unnoticeable look of defeat flashed in Natasha's eyes which only Yara seemed to notice. "Gone."

The stranger, Carol, didn't seem surprised, but rather sad upon hearing the answer to her question. Yara was wondering who this person was. Carol had a strange suit, she could glow with a bright light, and she had known Fury well enough to be sad about his passing. So who was she and how come none of them had ever heard about her?