female robbery | marvel

Freedom

"I break chains all by myself. Won't let my freedom rot in hell."

- - - -

Inside the police van that the four heroes were being transported in, Harley found herself mulling over something she once heard Peter say, 'Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.'

In her fifteen years of living, Harley had gone from criminal, to villain, to hero, to vigilante, and back to hero. But as of half an hour ago, she was once again a criminal. But May had also told her that while she may have been all those things, the most important things she was through it all, was a victim and a survivor.

Harley liked to think that she was good at learning from her mistakes. Her months as a vigilante were some of the hardest times she'd ever been through, though she enjoyed them greatly. During that time, public opinion about her and her morals had shifted drastically. Harley rubbed her temples in frustration at imagining what it would be like this time around.

The only person she can blame for her predicament is herself, knowing that if she had the chance to redo her decision, she would choose Steve every time.

"So you like cats?" Sam asks, interrupting Harley's thoughts.

"Yes!" Harley exclaims, assuming the question was for her.

"Not you, Smurfette."

"Sam." Steve warns.

"What? Dude shows up dressed like a cat, you don't want to know more?" Sam defends.

A scowl finds its way onto Harley's face as she looks forward, staring at the back of T'Challa's head.

Under different circumstances, Harley would've respectfully bowed to the new, and very handsome, King of Wakanda. But after seeing him actively endanger Bucky today, she opted to sticking her nose in the air and giving him unimpressed looks.

"Your suit. It's vibranium." Steve questions the King, but the tone of his voice suggests it's a statement.

"The Black Panther has been the protector of Wakanda for generations. A mantra passed from warrior to warrior." T'Challe replies, and Harley melts at the sound of his voice, the accent melting her icy hatred for him. "And now because your friend murdered my father, I also wear the mantra of 'King'. So I ask you as both a warrior and King, how long do you think you can keep your friend safe from me?"

Harley and Steve refrain from rolling their eyes.

- - - -

When they arrive at the base, Harley watches Steve's eyes as they search for Bucky, his eyes filling with worry when he finds him inside of a glass box being driven towards a room to the right.

Harley, Sam, and Steve walk to their left where Sharon is standing next to an unknown man in a gray suit. Harley smirks and waves at the group of guards standing behind them.

"What's gonna happen?" Steve asks the man when they're within hearing distance.

"The same thing that ought to happen to you." He says. "Psychological evaluation," he says this while looking pointedly at Harley. "And extradition."

"I've already had a psych evaluation." Harley glares at the man. "The doctors diagnosed me as a certified nutso."

"This is Everett Ross." Sharon introduces, stepping between the two. "He's the Deputy Task Force Commander."

"Yeah, we've met."

"Does he get a lawyer?" Steve asks, putting his arm around Harley's shoulder, pulling her away from Deputy Ross.