Chapter Text
A lone girl walked the halls of a wrecked and deserted building. She walked with the weight of something heavy on her shoulders—the look of someone beaten and bruised in every way possible. Her feet took each step as if they were made of lead and her head hung low with grief and sadness. The girl stepped over and avoided the rubble and debris of the damaged and ruined building. She kept walking until she reached a familiar room. She placed a hand on the door and it fell over with a loud creak and crash, dust kicking up from the impact it made to the floor. The girl looked down at it with tears barely held back. She looked around the room and frowned, anger stirring in her as she sat down in the chair to take everything in.
It had started here after all.
The end of something she loved.
Kamala Khan sat alone in the conference room of Avengers tower. She looked around at the empty chairs that used to hold the Avengers. That used to hold her team. Her family. Now they just showed everything she had lost in a matter of one week. Only one week ago had things been the same as they always been. The Avengers, a united front and the Earth’s constant defense, fighting against the bad guys and winning the day and saving the civilians. Her getting a ride home from Tony. Training with Natasha, Steve, and T’Challa. Going to school at Coles and hanging out with her friends. But now?
Now the Avengers were disassembled.
The Avengers, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, had fallen. And they had fallen by destroying themselves and as a result destroyed the city. They had let anger and frustration spark a rift between each other and let it stew until it got out of hand. Until they couldn’t it take it any longer that it grew into an all out war on three fronts that turned to ultimately two in the end. Captain America, Iron Man, and Captain Marvel. The three teams as it had been. Kamala sighed and rested her head in her hands as she held back tears threatening to fall. How did the team get broken up again? How did they end up fighting each other again? They had joined to get her after the Mighty Avengers joined the Avengers after the whole Inhuman Registration Act and then after saving them all after getting blasted into different time periods and places. But apparently that whole adventure didn’t seal an unbreakable bond that could have prevented this whole mess.
Because Civil War (as the public now called it) had happened and broken apart everything.
Kamala leaned back in her chair and stared up at the ceiling wondering how everything had played out and how she could have stoped it. Or. . .if there was ever any chance at stopping the rift in the team at all. If there was ever preventing the catastrophic soap opera of irreversible damage that was the Civil War of the Avengers.
Avengers Tower
Manhattan, New York
One week ago. . .
“You can’t be serious, Fury!” Tony Stark exclaimed as he leaned back in his chair.
The Avengers present in New York or nearby had been called in to the tower for an emergency meeting by Nick Fury and some others that were apparently an unknown third party. The team tended to stay out of SHIELD’s way and them out of the Avengers’ but the two would help the other occasionally if the situation called for it. But for the director of SHIELD to call an emergency meeting like this? It was so sudden and unexpected that they had all been concerned. Nick Fury rarely called for emergencies but if he was concerned then they should all be panicking. And now they could all understand that as they heard the news Fury had broken to them in the Avengers conference room.
“I am, Stark,” Fury sighed.
“But why are they doing this now? What did we do?” Scott Lang asked, crossing his arms. He didn’t understand why the US government was suddenly so invested with the Avengers and what they did. He thought they had taken care of the problem with Ultron/Truman Marsh but apparently not. He had problems with the law before but didn’t think that it would now come after all of them instead of just him.
“You are, and I quote, ‘becoming reckless and insensitive in your battles across New York and other areas’ as they so kindly put it,” Fury answered. The Avengers all looked at each other in confusion.
“But, we always stay to help clean up after our battles. We never leave people to clean up after us or need help!” Ms. Marvel interjected. She knew they stayed behind because she had brought it up how rarely the team stays behind to help those affected by their battles. Then, it had become a habit for them to stay behind for clean up and making sure anyone financially ruined was helped out by Stark Industries. So, how were they being insensitive? And they had Captain America as their leader! He never made a reckless play!
“I understand that, Ms. Marvel, but they also claim you all have gone on a ‘power trip’ in recent times,” Fury told the young Avenger. Tony snorted.
“Let me guess, another quote?”
“Stark—”
“No, cause we save their butts countless times and they think it’s okay to put restrictions on us!? Sure some of the problems come from individuals but we always stop it! Have we not learned anything from the Inhuman situation or Ultron?” The inventor ranted, except instead of butts he said something a little more rude along with some colorful adjectives.
“Tony!” Steve Rogers shouted, gesturing to Ms. Marvel. The polymorph looked confused at the sudden attention until she realized that Cap had meant Tony’s vulgar language had slipped through and she was in the presence of it. She forgot to tell him that she went to high school in Jersey and heard far worse but, oh well.
“Please, Cap, she’s a teenager in high school. New Jersey at that! I’m sure one little no no word here and there won’t hurt her,” Tony scoffed, turning to look at Fury, “So what does the oh so great Truman Marsh want with us anyway? I’m even surprised he still has his job!”
“They want you to sign something. All of you,” Fury said, clicking a button as a projection popped up with what the appears the Avengers were wanted to sign. Everyone had varying degrees of shock and anger as they read the papers on the screen.
“Um, who is they?” Clint asked, he frowned as he finished reading the papers viewed to them. This was only the first page? He didn’t like how much ‘they’ wanted to change about the Avengers. Especially if it meant controlling which missions were deemed necessary for the Avengers to go on.
“They are the UN council,” Fury said with a hint of disdain.
“UN? Like. . .United Nations?” Songbird asked. She had only been a hero for a little while but now she saw that this was much more than she had previously thought it old all entail. She sighed and rubbed her temples with two fingers. Clint hadn’t mentioned this at all when he suggested the hero life.
“Yes. They are the United Nations Council. A group formed to—”
“Babysit us?” Tony interrupted. Fury shot the man a glare.
“They feel like the Avengers threaten the safety of the world whilst saving it,” Fury continued. “That is why they made these. The Accords.”
“The accords?” Steve asked skeptically.
“Papers voted on by numerous countries to keep the Avengers in check and from causing more damage,” Fury clarified.
“And who is our ‘negotiator between the two parties’ in this?” Jennifer Walters asked.
She wasn’t even considered an Avenger but this seemed to bleed more into anyone with powers over Avengers. She saw where this was going. The Inhuman registration was only the start. She knew that the superhuman registration act was in the works but she had debated against that. She thought they won but now? The UN Council were afraid. And fear rarely lead to rational thinking. It lead to violence.
“I did,” a new voice proclaimed as he walked in. Several Avengers casted him distrusting looks as he walked to stand beside Fury up front. He smiled at the Avengers and motioned for them to calm down. His suit and crooked grin did little to ease the Avengers as he tried to put a good foot forward.
“I understand our trust is. . .loose. But I promise these accords were made on good terms,” Truman Marsh said, smiling at Bruce Banner specifically. Bruce looked at hm uneasy. The guy had made a tracking disk for Hulk and had tried to do the same for Inhumans. Who thought putting him in this was a good idea Bruce will never know.
“Then what are these ‘good terms’?” Hope Van Dyne asked, her face stone cold.
“Example one: New Attilan,” Marsh said as a video clip of the events ran. It showcased all the damage done to those caught in the crossfire and some people turning to Inhumans.
“Example two: the Inhuman wars,” Marsh continued.
The clip played all the mind controlled Inhumans causing damage and general havoc. The video turned to Ms. Marvel and the polymorph looked away in shame at the damage she had caused after getting the disk forcefully put on her. Then the mind wave hit and she had no control over her next actions at all. She had gone into hiding to specifically prevent that. Several Avengers noticed the girl’s change in attitude and sent death glares at the man while Steve called out,
“That’s enough,” he said. Marsh ended the video and faced the Avengers.
“This is only the recent huge events but plenty of other casualties can be named where innocent people were harmed. The accords are here to help you not harm.”
The Avengers all sat in silence as Marsh passed a black folder over to Steve at the head of the table. He opened it and skimmed through it, frowning at the demands that the UN wanted before passing it to Tony. He didn’t even bother to read it as he passed it along to Carol who read it thoroughly before passing it on to T’Challa and then Vision making its way to the end of the round table where Ms. Marvel sat. She took the longest to read them and raised her hand after she had read them.
“Yes?” Marsh asked.
“What does it mean that certain things will be ‘confiscated’?” Ms. Marvel asked as she pointed to the line on the very back of a page in the accords. Several squinted their eyes to read it and then turned to Truman Marsh with questioning looks. He smirked.
“Ah yes, you see. For example Mr. Stark, Rogers, and Red Hulk’s gear will be confiscated along with Ms. Romanov’s should the mission be required of said gear, it will be returned to you,” Marsh explained. Several cried out in protest at that. If they didn’t have their gear then how were they supposed to help? And then if the mission is deemed necessary? So not only were their gear and weapons being taken away but now their right to help? These accords were starting to sound more and more restricting to the Avengers’ ears as they went on.
“I will leave you all to sign these within the next three days,” Marsh said as he made to walk out of the room.
“And if we don’t?” Tony challenged.
“Then, you will no longer be heroes. . .but regarded as criminals and be charged with the title of threats to be shot on sight,” Marsh answered before walking out.
Ms. Marvel looked around the table at the thoughtful and angry faces of super heroes around her. All of them contrasting her own fearful one. She bit her bottom lip and looked out the window at the back wall that showed New York. She didn’t know why yet, but, she had a very bad feeling about this. Maybe call it gut instinct or something else but the accords seemed off in more ways than one with her. As a good friend of hers would say, her Spidey senses are tingling.
And that usually was never a good thing.
Kamala walked into the living room after hearing the shouting. Normally, Tony would pick her up and fly her to the tower today but she had told him not to. She had decided to read the accords over again after what happened Monday. She didn’t know what it was but something just felt so off. And she knew it wasn’t Truman Marsh being Ultron. She sighed and walked into the living area of the tower only to find Tony and Carol in a screaming match. The girl blinked and looked around to see the others just going on as if they weren’t screaming. Natasha saw the girl standing in confusion and walked over to her. The spy gently nudged the girl into the hallway and away from the fighting.
“Why are they—”
“The accords,” Natasha said simply.
“Oh.”
“Hey, don’t look like that. The team just has different. . .opinions on the matter is all,” Natasha shrugged.
“Okay, but what causes this?” Kamala asked, gesturing to Carol and Tony arguing. Nat sighed and took a moment to give Kamala her answer. She didn’t want the young girl to panic or worry about a rift in the team but she really couldn’t sugar coat anything with Kamala. The girl didn’t fall for that as easily as she would when first being an Avenger.
“They both stand on different sides of the accords,” Natasha explained.
“Which sides? Why does there have to be sides? Are we getting the accords Nat? Is the team splitting up? I don’t want that!” The teen rapid fired.
“I. . .can’t say,” the spy said slowly , giving Kamala a meaningful look hoping she would catch on.
“Oh, so Carol wants it and Tony doesn’t?” Kamala guessed.
Natasha grimaced and shook her head slightly. The polymorph blinked and thought about her guess. Her and Nat did this. If Kamala was close and Natasha was supposed to not verbally say something, Kamala could guess and if she got it right and figured it out Nat never broke the rules because Kamala figured it out before Natasha even said anything. A slight shake means she was close but still off some. Kamala thought about it and her face dropped at the realization. She was now begging Nat would shake her head no and not give her a nod.
“Carol thinks we should be held accountable for the damage we make and Tony thinks we shouldn’t since we always stay to clean up but Carol says there shouldn’t be damage at all?” Kamala guessed with dread. Nat nodded her head slowly and pulled the young Avenger close for a hug after her eyes filled with grief.
“They’re idiots, they’ll recover,” Nat said simply.
“And what if they don’t?” Kamala asked, pulling away.
“Then. . .we knock some sense into them,” Natasha smirked.
Kamala smiled and the two went off to do Kamala’s intensive training for the day. The spy also wanted the young one away from the growing fight seeing as Steve had started walking over to them. She knew the moment Truman Marsh walked into that conference room four days ago that nothing good was going to come from it. She knew what side she would end up on—because all fighting led to cracks. And the cracks ran down to the foundation and once the foundation is compromised. . .it all comes tumbling down. Down and down until there was nothing left with the building being the Avengers. Natasha just hoped it wouldn’t come that despite all the signs.
Back in the living room, the fighting had only heated up with more insults and yelling. Tony and Carol had been arguing the accords for a while now. Ever since Monday, in fact after Tony had made his opinion on the Accords known. The others from the conference had left beside the regular Avengers like Hope, Scott, Natasha, Steve, Bucky, Clint, Banner, Vision, T’Challa, and Ms. Marvel with Thor being off world. Tony shrugged after Carol had thrown a viscous question to his face.
“You’re not seeing the good that can come from this, Stark!” Carol said after a moment.
“Oh? I don’t? What good can come from me having my suit locked away where I can’t access it if someone needs help? What’s good about any of our suits getting locked up when it comes to the life of someone we can help with them!” Tony argued.
“Well, someone who’s trying to hurt people can’t get to them,” Hope interjected. Scott gave her a confused look at that. But that’s only happen a few times and they always won? So why was Hope even bringing that up?
“See? At least someone gets it!” Carol exclaimed. “The public is afraid of us, Tony! We need to assure them and be on the good side of the government!”
“Really, Carol? Where was that government during the Inhuman registration huh?” Clint asked, frowning at the blonde powerhouse.
“We all know Ultron was pulling the strings with that—”
“And that they went along with it!” Tony interjected.
“Everybody calm down! The Accords, would help people be at ease, yes, but they also limit our ability to respond to emergencies better. And I think, in all good intent, that we should always choose to help over being made better in the public or government’s eye. Our job is to protect the people of the world and if the Accords hinder that then. . .” Captain America spoke up form where he had been sitting at the couch in thought.
“Come on now,” Carol said, rolling her eyes. “It’s not hindering anyone!”
Clint, Tony, Bucky, and Scott all raised their hands. Carol growled and walked out of the room. Hope got up and said she was going to see if the woman was all right. Tony grinned and turned to his colleagues.
“What’s got you all smiles?” Clint asked, moving to refill his mug of coffee.
“Now that Ms. Tantrum is gone we can start the real conversation!” The inventor said like it was obvious.
“Tony. . .” Steve cautioned.
He sent a sideways glance to the other occupants of the room. Mainly Bruce, Vision, and T’Challa. He already knew that they were like Carol. More lenient on the side that they should be regulated and watched over. Especially because of past experiences alone. He knew Banner had been ridiculed and shunned enough by the public and that being able to keep the Hulk watched over was probably a blessing to him. But Steve also wondered how Hulk would address the situation. Then there was Vision. He knew the synthezoid would see the logical side of everything. And T’Challa. . .he wasn’t actually sure why he agreed with Carol on the Accords actually.
“If you are worried about the enemy hearing about your plans. . .we will leave,” T’Challa said getting the hint he wasn’t entirely wanted because of where he stood on the Accords. He wasn’t offended, no, more so hurt that the Accords were putting a rift in the team simply because of opinions.
“No, T’Challa, I just mean—”
“It’s fine, Cap. Really,” Bruce said, giving a forced smile. The scientist had been fighting off a massive headache ever since yesterday and the yelling match between Carol and Tony in the room certainly didn’t help. He just wished the pounding in his skull would stop. Felt like someone was banging their fists on a door and the door was his head.
“I didn’t—nobody is saying that they don’t want you here,” Steve looked around for support, “Just that we don’t want to offend anyone.”
“Of course, Captain. However, I need to go attend to some primary function diagnostics. Farewell, Avengers,” Vision said before phasing through the floor and down to who knows where.
“Okay, well, I gotta—Hulk,” Banner said before quickly shuffling out the room and T’Challa only left with a cur nod to the group and walked off after the scientist. Steve glared at Tony while the man shrugged, sitting on the couch and leaning forward while he listened intently to the news.
“See? They already want the Accords and we haven’t even signed them yet!” Clint grumbled while gesturing to the screen.
“Because they’re afraid,” Barnes said quietly. All heads turned to him and stared intently. He looked up startled at the pairs of eyes on him and then shrugged.
“I mean there’s me which doesn’t need any explanation and then people are scared about all the damage done already after fights. I don’t think limiting the Avengers reach is going to help but maybe we could put in, I don’t know, measures? To help?” Bucky said after a moment.
“Wow, Barnes. I’m impressed,” Tony slow clapped.
“What?”
“He means he didn’t think you were smart,” Clint stated bluntly.
“I did not!” Tony gasped. Then to Barnes, “Don’t listen to birdie over there he’s just grumpy. Hasn’t had his usual nap, you know?”
“I’m a full grown man, Tony! I don’t need a nap!” Clint retorted. Tony rolled his eyes and mouthed ‘yeah right.’ He turned and looked to the ceiling.
“Oh sweet AI of mine, when are we supposed to sign these horrific accords?” Tony asked.
“Today, sir,” came JARVIS’ reply. Tony made a face.
“Well, then, things about to go down.”
“Didn’t we all know that though?” Clint asked.
“We can try going into hiding for a while,” Steve suggested.
“Alright, worked last time. Gives us time to plan something without the big guys breathing down our necks,” Tony mumbled, getting up.
“What about Ms. Marvel?” Scott piped up for the first time in the conversation. Several of the men paused their actions and slowly turned to look at one another. What about Ms. Marvel? She was just a kid and they were about to go into hiding and off the radar and they weren’t going to bring her along unless she got into trouble too so. . .they all collectively looked at each other and nodded as they came to a unified decision.
Kamala walked out of her bathroom at the tower after showering and changing into her costume. She picked the mask up from where it laid on her nightstand and fiddled with it between her fingers. She thought of all the times the team had been so tightly knit people would think of them as family. Kamala smiled sadly at the memories. She wouldn’t let the team fall. Not again. I know the Avengers are more than just a bunch of people that everyone sees as perfect. I learned that. They’re so much more. They’re— A knock at her door snapped her out of her thoughts as the voice of Steve Rogers asked to come in. Kamala told him to come in and he walked in with Clint and Bucky.
“Hey. . .” Kamala waved, her eyes wide in surprise. Bucky and Clint waved back while Steve smiled sheepishly when the young girl turned to him with a confused look.
“Sorry, just wanted to check up on you,” Steve said as the other men nodded.
“Oh, I’m good!” The polymorph smiled. Am I though? I mean, all this fighting happening isn’t really good and at first it was only mild. Frowns or grumbling under breaths but now it’s full blown arguments.
“Good. Just we know everything with Tony and Carol—”
Clint scoffed.
“Has been difficult and we didn’t know if you noticed it or not,” Steve finished, casting a hard look to the archer. Kamala watched this interaction with interest. Why did Clint scoff? Were Carol and Tony still fighting? Didn’t they already do this whole fighting when they were the Avengers and Mighty Avengers? Shouldn’t they know better than to trust Truman Marsh? Right?
“I saw them fighting,” Kamala confessed, “You?”
“Me?” Steve asked, making sure she got her question right.
“You. Have you been fighting too?” Kamala clarified with a trained blank face. She was dreading the answer but also hoping against hope that it would be no.
“No, I’ve been trying to show Carol Tony’s side.”
Wait what?
“Tony’s side?” She echoed.
“Yeah. Danvers is on her high horse thinking we should have the accords because we are ‘dangerous’ at times and that if the public thinks that then we should too,” Clint grumbled. Kamala felt her face pale. Of course Carol would say yes tot the accords if the public agrees with it. But why would Tony say no? Right, he’s already seen this a million times with Cap and then all together. He knows this is bull.
“Where’s Carol?” Kamala asked, putting her mask on. The guys all exchanged glances. Ms. Marvel repeated her question once more and when she still didn’t get an answer she tried to move to the door. Clint put a hand out to stop her. Kamala looked up at the archer in question. Clint sighed and shook his head. This is going to be harder than I thought it would. He thought bitterly.
“You can’t go out there kid,” he said, look sorrowful.
“Why not!? What’s going on? Cap? Buck?” Kamala asked.
“I’m sorry, kid,” Bucky said, pulling out a vial of something blue and glowing. A teleportation device powered by Pym particles. Kamala protested and banged against her door. Bucky's face held regret as he got ready to tap the device to Kamala to send her back to New Jersey. It was for her own safety. The fighting had only gotten worse during her training with Nat. Tony had hit a soft spot for Carol and then when Carol had done the same it had only turned to side picking and then. . .well crap went out of the window as one could say nicely.
“No! I can help! Please!” Kamala begged, turning around to face them and slap Barnes' arms away.
She looked down at the small slit where there was space between her door and the floor. There. Kamala shrunk down and dashed through the opening and regrew back on the other side. She told JARVIS to give her a head start and then made her way to the living room. She heard the guys behind her calling her name and had an idea. She shapeshifter into Natasha and turned around, facing the three heroes. They stopped upon seeing her and frowned.
“Natasha, where’s Kamala?” Steve asked.
“Isn’t she in her room?” Natasha/Kamala asked. She turned to leave but Clint grabbed her arm.
“You forgot she had grown her hair an extra inch,” Clint said, his smile sad as he saw fear dawn on Natasha’s face. Kamala shapeshifted back to her normal self and looked at them pleadingly.
“Let me help.”
“It’s dangerous, Ms. Marvel. You need to go home. Let the adults handle this,” Steve said.
“Listen to Stevie, kid. The punk’s right,” Bucky agreed.
He had come to known the kid could handle herself in a lot of situations but this? That was a no brainer. She needed to go back to Jersey and stay put. He also didn’t want her in any of this because despite what Stark and Barton said he maybe might have sort of developed a small surge of protectiveness over the teen and maybe he watched her six more than he would the others to make sure she was still breathing. Clint let go of Kamala’s arm and the girl sighed, scrubbing her face, frustrated at the situation. Clint comforted her saying that it wasn’t even that bad which he was countered by if it wasn’t then she would be allowed to go in the living room and talk the two older super heroes down. Clint sighed and turned to the others.
“Wait a minute. Where’s Scott? And Tony? And the others?” Kamala asked suddenly knowing that both men didn’t like the accords and the others did but she noticed how the men weren’t present. And that led her mind to race to some thoughts she didn’t enjoy.
“Uh,” Bucky trailed off.
“Where. Are. They.”
“Look kid,” Clint started.
“You can’t do this! You can’t let the Accords tear the Avengers apart!” Kamala panicked.
“We’re not. We just need to talk this out,” Natasha spoke up from behind her, decloaking herself. She held a blue vial and before anyone could react, she snapped the switch and tapped it to Kamala and in a blue flash the girl was gone. Steve, Clint, and Bucky all looked to her in shock and then back at the spot where Kamala had once been.
“Trust me. She’s out of this for good now.”
“If you really knew her, Natalia, you would know she is not letting us out of this easy.”
“Nope. You ready?” The spy asked, getting into a fighting position. Clint looked at his friend with sadness and betrayal.
“You too?” He asked.
“I don’t have a choice,” she said, lunging forward with her batons. “None of us do.”