𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐇 | 𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬¹

Bonds of Fury and Forgiveness

I didn't have to engage T'Challa for long. Before I knew it, he stepped back, his eyes narrowing as he recognized that I wouldn't let him pursue Bucky and Steve without a fight. A flicker of grudging respect crossed his face, and he offered a subtle nod, as if to acknowledge my resolve.

With a final, defiant hiss in his direction, I pivoted and darted after Steve and Bucky. My senses heightened, adrenaline coursed through me, sharpening my instincts to a razor's edge. I followed their scent, a mix of sweat and determination, down into the shadowy depths of an underpass.

The chaos of the chase escalated around me; cars veered wildly, tires screeching against asphalt, horns blaring like frantic sirens in the night. I sprinted, my body low and agile, weaving through the mayhem. The world became a blur of headlights and shadows as I pushed forward, every muscle primed to defend my friends against whatever threat lurked ahead.

The flashing lights from the police cars cast harsh blue shadows across the rain-slicked pavement. I found myself backed into a corner, with three patrol vehicles forming a barrier while War Machine hovered above, his armor gleaming under the streetlights. My enhanced senses picked up every whir and click of his suit's mechanisms.

Steve and Bucky emerged from behind the police cars, their expressions a mix of concern and disbelief. I let out a warning hiss, my tail lashing back and forth like a whip. The sound made all three men tense – even through War Machine's armor, I could sense Rhodey's unease.

"Don't, Kira, please," Rhodey's voice came through his suit's speakers, softer than I expected. "We can talk this out."

My tail slashed through the air again, and I felt my pupils narrow to slits. "You shouldn't have signed, Rhodey," I spat the words out, each syllable dripping with betrayal. "The Accords were never about protection. They were about control."

Rhodey sighed, his gaze steady. "You may be right, but still—it's best if we get put on leashes, for everyone's safety."

I snarled, my tail lashing against the floor, the sharp sound echoing through the room. "I am not something you leash, Rhodey. I'm a monster, remember?" My voice came out low and feral, a reminder of the beast I was trained to be—and the one I chose to unleash only when necessary.

Rhodey's eyes flickered with a mix of caution and sympathy, but he didn't back down. "No one's saying you're a monster, Kira. Just...that some things might need more control. For everyone's good."

I let out a low growl, the urge to fight against this talk of restraints clawing at me.

A sharp laugh escaped me, bitter and cold. "More control? Like the control HYDRA had over Bucky?" My gaze flickered to the Winter Soldier, who flinched at my words. "Or maybe like the 'control' they had over me in that lab? Tell me, Rhodey, how many more experiments do you think they'll run on us once we're all properly tagged and leashed?"

War Machine's armor whirred as he shifted his stance. "That's not fair, Kira. The Accords aren't HYDRA—"

"No?" I cut him off, my claws extending instinctively. "Then why does it feel exactly the same? Registration. Monitoring. Containment. Pretty words for ugly things." The shadows around us seemed to deepen, responding to my growing anger. "Steve understands. Don't you, Cap?"

Steve Rogers stepped forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Kira's right, Rhodes. We've seen how this starts. Good intentions paving the way to hell."

"The world is scared," Rhodey countered, his voice strained. "After Sokovia, after Lagos—"

"The world should be scared," I hissed, my eyes glowing in the darkness. "But not of us. Of what happens when you cage something that's meant to be free."