THE RAVEN | avengers

[69]

ACT 1
Chapter 69
I Had To

Raven stood in the center of the ring, face to face with Winter. The world outside seemed to blur, fading into the background and all that mattered now was the man in front of her — the man she had once known, the man she had left behind. His eyes, those cold blue eyes, burned with an intensity she hadn't seen in years.

Rowan and Caelan stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching with anticipation. Strucker and Viktor, grinning like the puppet masters they were, looked on, ready to see their creations put on a show.

"Entertain us," Strucker said, breaking the thick silence that hung in the air.

And that was all it took.

Winter moved first, launching at Raven with a force that took her by surprise. His speed, his precision — it was like facing a storm, and Raven barely had time to react. She dodged to the side, just narrowly avoiding the brunt of his first strike, but she felt the wind of his metal arm sweep past her, inches from her skin.

He was furious. It radiated off him in waves, his movements sharp, calculated, but filled with something raw beneath the surface. She could feel it in the way his fists came down harder than necessary, the way his jaw clenched with each attack.

And she knew why.

To the others, it probably looked like just another demonstration of the Winter Soldier's unparalleled skill. But Raven knew better. This wasn't just a fight — it was personal.

Winter's metal arm shot towards her, and this time, she barely blocked it, her forearm meeting his with a harsh clang. The impact rattled through her bones, but she didn't flinch, didn't let the pain show. She pushed back, ducking low and sweeping out with a kick, but Winter was faster — he leapt back, his eyes never leaving hers.

Their movements were almost too fast to track, a blur of limbs and strikes as they circled each other. The ring felt small, suffocating, as if it couldn't contain the weight of what lay between them.

Raven tried to focus, to stay calm, but his eyes... Every time their gazes locked, it was like she could feel his anger pulling her under, dragging her back to that night. That morning she had left him without a word, after their shared moment, while he had slept, blissfully unaware.

She had walked away. And he hadn't forgotten.

Winter struck again, his fist grazing her side with enough force to send her stumbling. She regained her balance quickly, but he was already on her, relentless, brutal. His attacks came faster now, the fury in him barely contained.

She ducked under a wild swing of his metal arm, feeling the rush of air as it passed over her head. She retaliated with a punch to his ribs, quick and sharp, but he barely flinched. His rage was a shield, his pain giving him strength.

For a brief second, his eyes met hers again. This close, she could see the storm brewing there. It wasn't just anger — it was heartbreak.

Winter caught her wrist in a grip that was too tight, too controlled, and spun her around, pinning her to the mat with a force that left her breathless. His face hovered inches from hers, the intensity of his glare cutting through her like a knife.

"You left," he hissed, his voice low, filled with a fury that only she could hear.

Her heart hammered in her chest, but she didn't have time to respond. He pulled her up and threw her across the ring as if she weighed nothing. The impact with the mat jarred her, but Raven was quick to roll to her feet, her mind racing, her body reacting on instinct.

He was on her again, this time faster, his fists a blur as he drove her back towards the edge of the ring. She parried his blows, but it was clear — he had the upper hand.

Raven had fought hundreds of battles, faced down enemies who wanted nothing more than to end her life. But this — this was different. Winter wasn't just an opponent. He was a reminder of everything she had tried to bury, everything she had walked away from.

Another hit. This time, it landed squarely against her shoulder, sending her staggering back. The pain was sharp, radiating through her, but she forced herself to push it aside.

For a split second, she hesitated.

And that was all Winter needed. He swept in, knocking her legs out from under her and pinning her to the ground. His weight pressed against her, his metal arm braced across her chest, trapping her.

She could feel his breath, heavy and ragged, as he stared down at her, his face inches from hers. His eyes were burning, and in that moment, everything they hadn't said — all the words left unspoken, all the feelings left unresolved — hung between them like a blade.

Raven's chest rose and fell, her heart pounding against the pressure of his arm. Her own anger flared, but she couldn't fight the guilt that gnawed at her, the guilt she had been avoiding for so long.

"I had to," she whispered, her voice tight, barely audible beneath the weight of his body.

Winter's jaw clenched again, his grip tightening. He leaned closer, and just as he did, Raven struck, sending her head straight for his with a force that caught him completely off guard. The impact cracked through the air, and Winter stumbled back, a rare look of surprise crossing his face. Blood began to trickle from his nose, the shock of it making him momentarily pause.

Raven groaned as she pushed herself off the mat, her body aching, but her anger was simmering beneath the surface now, fuelling her movements.

"Yeah!" Rowan shouted from the sidelines, his voice cutting through the tension with gleeful enthusiasm. "Finally!"

But Winter wasn't done.

He launched at her again, faster, more determined, but this time, Raven was ready. Her own fury, raw and unbridled, gave her an edge she hadn't had before. She moved with precision, dodging his blows with a new sharpness, countering his attacks with strikes of her own.

Her fists connected with his ribs, his shoulder, but it wasn't enough to stop him. Winter was relentless, his movements brutal, his strength overpowering.

When he finally caught her again, he shoved her hard against the ropes, the force of it making her body snap back like a whip. The ropes dug into her skin, cutting across her ribs, the pain sharp and searing.

Their eyes locked again.

Then, Viktor's voice cut through the air, cold and commanding. "That's enough."

Winter didn't move immediately. His body was still pressed against Raven's, the tension between them palpable. His eyes bore into hers, a silent war raging behind them, but slowly, painfully, he began to release her.

The ropes snapped back into place as she stumbled forward, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Winter took a step back, his body still taut with anger, his eyes never leaving hers.

For a brief moment, there was a heavy silence in the air, the weight of what had just happened lingering between them. Raven could feel the sting of the ropes against her skin, but it was nothing compared to the fire burning inside her now.

Rowan, of course, broke the silence, his voice still loud and unapologetic. "Damn, you two could sell tickets to this show."

But Raven barely registered his words. Her focus was still on Winter, on the way he was watching her — his eyes intense, searching, as though he was waiting for something.

An answer. A reaction. Anything.

But without a word, Raven jumped out of the ring, her steps filled with purpose as she walked out of the gym. Her jaw was clenched, her entire body thrumming with a mix of anger and frustration she could barely contain.