Who Signed?
Kara let the tears pool in her eyes as she sat next to Steve and Sam. She couldn’t believe the first woman who ever took a chance on her—the woman who had saved her life multiple times—was gone. Holding Steve’s hand in her own, Kara listened as the minister gave his sermon and then invited Peggy’s niece Sharon to speak.
Sam nudged Steve as she approached the altar and all three of them looked at her in shock. They hadn’t known Steve’s former fake neighbor was also Peggy’s niece, and now they felt like they’d been lied to again.
“Margaret Carter was known to most as a founder of SHIELD…but I just knew her as Aunt Peggy. She had a photograph in her office. Aunt Peggy standing next to JFK. As a kid, that was pretty cool. But it was a lot to live up to. Which is why I never told anyone we were related.” She sent her gaze to the three Avengers as she continued. “I asked her once how she managed to master diplomacy and espionage in a time when no one wanted to see a woman succeed at either. She said compromise where you can. But where you can’t, don’t. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move…it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye and say ‘no, you move.’”
Kara felt her fiance’s hand squeeze hers at the words, and her heart fell to her stomach. She knew now that Steve had made his decision with those words, and it was not to sign the Accords. Wondering what that would mean for their family, Kara let out a breath and squeezed back, letting her mind wander to the possibilities of what could happen next.
Steve stood at the front of the church staring at Peggy’s picture. Hearing someone come up behind him, he sighed.
“When I came out of the ice, I thought everyone I had known was gone. Then I found out she was alive. I was just lucky to have her.”
“She had you back, too.” Natasha comforted him.
Hesitating for a moment, Steve contemplated his next question. “Who else signed?”
“Tony, Rhodey, Vision, and…”
“Kara, I know.” He cut her off. “I figured as much. Clint?”
“Says he’s retired.” She told him.
“Wanda?”
“TBD.” Then she sighed. “I’m headed to Vienna for the signing of the Accords. There’s plenty of room on the jet.”
“I know Kara’s going with you.” He told her. “Take care of her for me?”
“You know I don’t want to be in the middle of you two, right?”
He nodded. “I know, and we don’t want that either. But I don’t see how to avoid it now.”
Natasha sighed again. “Just because it’s the path of least resistance…doesn’t mean it’s the wrong path. Staying together is more important than how we stay together.”
“What are we giving up to do it?” He asked her. “I’m sorry, Nat. I can’t sign it.”
“I know.” She nodded. “Does Kara?”
“Yeah, she knows.” Then he smirked. “So, if you knew, then what are you doing here?”
“I didn’t want you to be alone.” She told him. “I know Kara and Sam were here, but….”
He nodded in appreciation and hugged her. “Come here.”
Kara fidgeted with the hem of her caped black jumpsuit. Though she was used to being surrounded by high-profile people such as herself, she hated being at odds with Steve and wished he were there with her.
“Excuse me, Miss Romanoff, Miss Stark? These need your signatures.”
As Kara signed the documents held out before her, she felt someone come up beside them before he started speaking.
“I suppose none of us is used to the spotlight.” Prince T’Challa said to them, then faced Kara. “Well, you might be.”
“Nothing like this.” She told him honestly, the sense of politics overwhelming her.
“Well, it’s not always so flattering,” Natasha told him.
“You seem to be doing alright so far.” He commented. “Considering your last trip to Capitol Hill…I wouldn’t think you’d be particularly comfortable in this company.”
“Well, I think I can speak for both of us when I say we’re not.”
“And that alone makes me very glad you two are here.” He said honestly.
“Why, you don’t approve of all this?”
He nodded. “The Accords, yes. The politics, not really. Two people in a room can get more done than a hundred.”
“Unless you need to move a piano.” Turning, they faced King T’Chaka, and Kara felt her stomach flip a little at being in the presence of a king. “Miss Romanoff. Miss Stark.”
“King T’Chaka.” Natasha sighed. “Please, allow me to apologize for what happened in Nigeria.”
“Thank you. Thank you for agreeing to all of this.” Then he looked at Kara. “I’m sad to hear that Captain Rogers will not be joining us today.”
“So am I.” The Kryptonian told him with a sad smile and felt Natasha put a hand on her arm.
“If everyone could please be seated. This assembly is now in session.”
T’Challa looked at his father. “The future is calling.”
The women said goodbye to the Wakandans, and the second they were clear, Natasha glanced at Kara. “You okay?”
Taking a deep breath, Kara shook her head. “Just get me through this, and I will be.”
“When stolen Wakandan vibranium was used to make a terrible weapon…we in Wakanda were forced to question our legacy. Those men and women killed in Nigeria…were part of a goodwill mission from a country too long in the shadows.
“We will not, however, let misfortune drive us back. We will fight to improve the world we wish to join. I am grateful to the Avengers for supporting this initiative.”
“Nat…”
Turning, Natasha looked at her alien friend in concern. “What is it?”
“A bomb.”
“Everybody, get down!” T’Challa screamed as he ran for his father.
Then all hell broke loose.