Our motley crew.

With the Accords in full effect, those who refused to sign had to go off the grid, go dark, however you wanted to put it.

Before we could fully start our new lives as fugitives of the law, we—well, mostly I—needed to make one last stop.

Steve had warned me beforehand that Tony would be in the new Avengers facility. That if he or Rhodey or anyone who sided with the Accords saw me, there was a chance they could arrest me.

I waited until nighttime to slip in. I kept my fires nonexistent, for fear of alerting someone to my presence. If I didn't do this, I would hate myself for it.

It'd taken some time, but I found the path to Todd's room. His room was dark, him a lump on his bed. Sighing, I crept in, lightly shaking him. He groaned, and I lit a small flame on one palm.

"Kiara?" he slurred sleepily. He looked more alert, jumping right from his bed. Thank the gods he didn't sleep naked, but seeing him in boxers was a sight I really didn't want to see. "What are you doing here?"

"Shh!" I hushed him. "I know, I know. It's been a hell of a time. I...I couldn't leave without saying goodbye."

"Goodbye?" The shadows of my flame reflected off his face.

"You know I can't stay, Todd. I have to...I've got to go." I hugged him tight, dowsing the flame in my palm, shrouding us in darkness once more. "I don't know how long I'll be gone, but I hope to someday see you again. I know you won't tell the others that I was here."

"I'll do you one better: I'm coming with you."

"What? Todd, no."

Todd wiggled out of my hug, diving under his bed. He pulled out a duffel bag. "I've had to be away from you since S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers recruited you. I've nearly lost you too many times."

"You've got your life to live. You don't have to throw that away for me, I don't want you to."

"I know you're not gonna be alone, but I'm not gonna stay here while my best friend is out on the run."

"You'll get grouped with the rest of us, be just as wanted as us. I can't let you do that."

"Honestly, the only friend I've got here is Aria, and that's putting it mildly. Since she's so bullheaded about the Accords...it's put a wedge between us. I'd rather be with my best friend than people who tried to take her into custody."

I shook my head. "You can't do this."

"You really want to try and stop me?"

"I could."

"If you wanted to. But you don't. So, how about we stop our chatter and sneak out of here?"

This wasn't part of the plan. He's throwing himself into the fire, because of me. Just because he refuses to hang around with people who tried to get me caught. Sometimes I wonder where his brains truly are. I sighed quietly. "Fine, but we need to be quick about it."

"I know a good route out. What? Natasha and I would prowl around for new, hidden routes as a training exercise."

"Then I guess I won't question Natasha. Lead the way."

Todd took lead, and I couldn't help but think back to all the memories here in this facility. On these very grounds I said I would marry Steve. On these grounds I did marry Steve, with Tony walking me down the aisle. This became a new home, but now it didn't feel so welcoming.

While I didn't want to peg Tony, Rhodey, Aria, or Vision, or any of the others as enemies, they certainly weren't much of friends anymore.

My feet stopped as my thoughts consumed me. Todd went on ahead a few more feet before realizing.

Kiara? You good?

I stood straight, wiping my mind. Good to go.

We continued our trek through the dark facility, prepared to leave all the good memories behind. 

**Andddd that concludes Book 5!

Y'all know what's coming next. One last book. One final chapter in Kiara's story, FOREVER.**

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