Flag Smashers: Karli Morgenthau x Male OC

20 | Chaos

short one sorry, next part out within the week!

Captain America brought the armoured vehicle to safety and using Redwing, cut open the lock on the doors. Cheers and applause rang throughout the street as bystanders watched the senators stream out thanks to Sam's actions.

Below in the construction site, the Flag Smashers recovered from the stupor of their momentarily ruined plans, and leapt back into action.

Quin grabbed a nearby piece metal rod and threw it at Bucky's head, but the older man caught it midair. Karli advanced towards him and brought her fist back to unleash a punch, but a shield came zooming towards her. It sent her flying backwards before rebounding into Quin's chest, and then back into the Falcon's hands as he descended into the construction site with his allies.

Karli took off her mask, revealing the scratches on her cheeks from the previous fights.

"You of all people bought into that bullshit?" she demanded.

"I'm trying something different. Maybe you should do the same," he replied.

Karli shook her head in disappointment, and suddenly several small explosions erupted in the form of gas pockets.

Bucky looked up into the scaffolding above, but could not see the gunman firing the smoke grenades. Soon, the entirety of the compound was engulfed in a veil of thick smoke, and screams rang out from the confused bystanders above.

"Come on, let's go," Quin whispered and approached from behind, slipping his hand into hers and pulling her along.

In the cloudy cover, Georges quickly intercepted into their path and passed a handgun to Karli, before disappearing into the smoke once more.

"He's not bad," Quin grinned, referencing Georges' display with the smoke grenade launcher. "We should hire him full time."

The Flag Smashers quickly ran out of the compound and disappeared into the tunnels in the construction site. Before long, however, Sam located their heat signatures with his combat goggles, and he led Walker and Bucky after them.

The Flag Smashers' combat boots echoed weakly in the tunnels as they sprinted, flashlight beams arcing crazily with their steps. As they passed a branching passageway, the members split up, leaving just Quin and Karli still together in the central tunnel.

He ducked his head as they sprinted through a sheet of plastic film, and noticed that they were still holding hands. A small smile crept across his lips despite the mix of fear and nervousness he was feeling.

They continued running together, weaving through the passageways, unsure of which way led out, but feeling slightly more assured by each other's side.

"Hey Sharon, we're underground," Bucky said into his commlink as the trio jogged after the Flag Smashers. "We entered the tunnel on William. Heading south."

"Looks like they split up," Sam stated as he looked at the red footprints that his combat goggles detected. "Here."

Bucky immediately deviated towards the branching tunnel and said to Sam, "I got it." His gaze flickered to Walker, who resolutely did not turn to Bucky and instead stared straight ahead into the main passage.

"Will you two be alright?" he asked, directing the question more towards Sam.

"We'll be fine," Walker replied curtly, enunciating the last word, and began running ahead.

Karli and Quin navigated their way through a maze of piping when suddenly a familiar whistle pierced the air; the gathering call for the Flag Smashers.

Exchanging a look, they followed the sound until they reached what looked like a large empty warehouse complex underground.

"Dovich?" Quin whispered. "Dovich is that you?"

They crept silently down the steel staircase into the warehouse, and suddenly a figure wheeled around the corner from behind a mountain of storage containers.

"Drop your weapon, Karli," Sharon Carter demanded, pointing a pistol at the two.

Immediately, the redhead raised her own weapon instead, and stepped in front of Quin.

"Morgenthau!" he hissed into her ear and placed a hand on her waist. "Don't be stupid."

"I said drop it," Sharon repeated, stepping closer.

"I'm disappointed in you," Karli replied after a small pause.

"That's what I was going to say," Sharon stopped so that they were pointing their pistols muzzles directly at each other. There was a second of tense silence and stillness, where it felt like either of them would pull the trigger.

Then, Sharon removed a hand from the gun as a sign of peace, before pointing the barrel away from the two Flag Smashers. In response, Karli lowered her gun as well.

"You know, when you came to Madripoor," Sharon began to monologue, "You reminded me of a young me. I took you in, gave you an opportunity, and you betrayed me."

"Because you wanted to control a world that hurt you," the redhead replied steadily. "But I wanted to change it. I'm not interested in empire or power. I have bigger dreams."

"What, like this?" Sharon scoffed, spreading her arms and motioning to the abandoned building. "Come back and work for me again, both of you. We can make a difference together."

"You just want us because you need your muscle back," Quin replied, stepping beside Karli. "Without us super soldiers, how much power does the Power Broker really have?"

Sharon seemed to consider for a second, before replying, "More than you."

Georges walked onto the scene.

"So, you're the Power Broker," he grinned at Sharon.

"You hired Baltroc to spy on me," Karli frowned.

Sharon shook her head and smirked, "Karli, you know I'm always prepared.

"I'm done with these games," Georges muttered, and whipped out a pistol from his belt, pointing it at Karli. No one moved.

"Maintenant, Power Broker...vous devez me payer quatre fois que vous avez dit. Four times," he repeated, "Or, je dis au monde entier qui vous êtes. Okay?"

Sharon rolled her eyes. "I don't do blackmail."

In a single swift motion, she drew her own gun and fired at Georges. A second bang rang out.

The sound of the shots echoed around the massive underground space, and Sam immediately honed onto the origin of the gunshots.

He arrived on the scene a few seconds later, to see a dead Georges, Sharon collapsed on the ground with a shot to the abdomen, and Karli and Quin standing together, a gun in their possession.

"Sam, stay back," Karli ordered, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. Quin balled his fists and turned towards the Falcon, ready for a fight. John Walker emerged from behind Sam.

"Oh great, it's you," Quin muttered, and raised his fists, seeing Walker as well.

"So what's next, huh?" Sam asked. "You kill ten this time, then what, a hundred? When does this end? Please, let me help you."

"There's no hope for these people," Walker grumbled quietly, but it echoed across the space. His blue eyes burned into Karli.

"Don't try to manipulate us," the redhead narrowed her eyes. She tightened her grip around the pistol and aimed it at Sharon's head.

"Karli, don't!" the Falcon yelled, before flying forwards, knocking both Quin and Karli down. With a yell, Walker charged into the fray.