ANGER DRIVEN ACTIONS CARRY REGRET

Her prayers weren't enough. They never were enough. Not even two minutes later, Locusta, Wanda and a stumbling Vision couldn't run any further. Vision collapsed into a heap, his body slumped half lifeless against the wall. 

She knew he didn't have much time left. 

She considered using her gift on him to give him a swift end. Yes, it would be painful but it was nothing in comparison to the pain he was in now. Locusta's gaze fell to her gloves; she quickly looked away. She couldn't do it. Even to end someone's suffering. 

God, she was such a coward. 

Locusta cursed herself, watching guiltily as Wanda fawned over Vision, begging him to get back up. She gulped, reaching a covered hand to Wanda. "We need to hurry." 

"Just give us a minute!" Wanda snapped, her eyes glowing vibrant red. Locusta subconsciously took a step back, gulping. Wanda shook her head, remorse written on her face. Just as she opened her mouth to apologise, Vision let out another moan of agony. Instantly she was at his side - making sure he was okay was a higher priority than saying sorry to a stranger. 

Locusta cautiously cast a glance over her shoulder, the back of her neck burning. She always trusted her instincts, and her gut was telling her something major was about to go down. Her fingers twitched, her muscle memory reaching for a gun that wasn't there. 

"Fuck," Locusta muttered, turning her back to Wanda and Vision. She didn't want them to see the pure panic in her eyes - Locusta was more of a burden, and with Vision wounded, would the infamous Scarlet Witch be focused enough to take down two members of the Black Order? The bravest man she knew couldn't do it, what made her capable? 

Her heart panged for Messalina, Curio and Octavian. If she did die, she wanted them by her side. She wanted them to know, and not to be left with the weight of what if. 

Locusta's hairs stood on end. Something shifted in the air. Something was coming. 

"Wanda..." Locusta warned, gulping harshly. She heard no response from the ginger woman, only the whipping wind and occasional roar of a passing train. 

One moment, they were alone, and the next, they were not. 

Locusta had to hold back her scream. Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight appeared in the middle of the train station, close enough that Locusta could make out the details of their faces. Her breaths thundered out of her chest, and she really wished she'd had chance to grab a gun before the compound got invaded by the very bastards standing in front of her. 

Just the thought made her fists clench. Those bastards were the reason she was thrown right back into the middle of this sorry ass mess, and had killed so many of the people she knew. Those bastards were the reason that Libertas was created, and the reason she met her family. 

Those bastards had stripped the world of everything it had once been and replaced it with chaos. 

"What are you waiting for!" Locusta screeched at the aliens responsible for so much agony, waving her arms. "If you want the stone, come right here and get it." 

She initiated the stance Octavian had ingrained into her, hoping that her back was straight and her knees were bent correctly. She couldn't spend much time pondering it, making sure her fists were ready just as the aliens came rushing towards them. 

And then another train rushed past. 

In that moment, everything changed. 

Everyone halted in their steps, eyes instantly catching onto the shadow against the back wall. Locusta's stomach dropped - was it another member of the Black Order? Her question was answered sooner than she'd liked, in the form of Proxima launching her spear in the direction. Locusta had to jump out of the way, falling harshly on the floor.

The shadow caught the spear. 

Locusta's breath caught in her throat. The figure slowly stepped into the shadows, and she nearly passed out right there and then. Looking a bit rougher than usual, there stood Steve Rogers. 

A wave of relief flooded over her. She was in the right reality. They got here in time. 

His jaw was set, yet he wasn't engaging straight away. It was as if he was waiting for something. A singular beat passed, with nothing happening. 

It happened all at once. 

Steve made a split second decision, tossing the spear to someone on the sidelines. Locusta didn't catch sight of them, quickly scrambling to her feet and getting out of the way. She wasn't needed, and she might as well let the professionals deal with it if they were here. 

What she didn't notice though was Corvus Glaive following her, instantly snatching her up without a second beat. His grip on her shoulder sent shards of agony shooting down her arm, and she was certain that his talon like nails were drawing blood. Locusta didn't trust herself not to cry out. Her trust was completely lost when his staff met her throat, caressing the fragile skin. 

She didn't dare even breathe, the sharp blade already slicing into her skin. 

"I'll kill her!" Corvus Glaive warned. The fight instantly stopped, with Steve's fist falling slightly. "Give us the stone and she lives." 

Even though she was trembling, her heartbeat erratic and sweating profusely, she couldn't help rolling her eyes. "That fucking cliche? God just kill me now."

Glaive didn't react, only digging the blade in deeper. Her neck felt wet; she didn't want to think what the reason why was. 

It was clear that Steve didn't know what to do. Indecision was written all over his face, and Proxima took this opportunity to wrench the spear out of Steve's friends hands, wasting no time swiping it at them. Wanda grunted as she conjured up her magic, throwing the vicious woman against the wall. Proxima didn't even stumble. 

"We can't give up Vis, you know that." Wanda argued through clenched teeth, hands raised to keep the woman pinned. Locusta would've been offended if she didn't know that what Wanda said was true. Hell, even she would say the same thing if the tables were turned. 

Steve didn't speak, only casting a glance at Locusta. She didn't plead, or beg for his help. That drove the knife deeper. 

Locusta hated the feeling of the blade against her neck. It made her feel weak, vulnerable and damn right uncomfortable. She had lived her entire life trying not to anger people, to make herself invisible and not be a hassle. She tried to minimise the casualties; that blade at her neck gave her a reason to fuck off her morals.

Sighing, Locusta shuffled her gloves off. "I didn't want to do this but you royally pissed me off." 

Before Corvus Glaive had a chance to respond, she thrust her hand behind her and pressed her bare palm to his thigh. An inhumane scream left his lips, and instantly he loosened his grip on her. Mustering her courage, she elbowed him in the fresh burn, spinning out of his grip and snatching his weapon off of him. She pointed the blade at his neck, a burning fury blazing in her eyes. "How do you like it, jack ass?" 

He only smirked with his bloodstained lips. Locusta frowned.

She found out why a second later. 

Proxima Midnight knocked her over, grabbing a hold of Corvus Glaive and disappearing in a blink. Locusta gasped, staring at where they'd been. They were so close. So close to having killed one of the Black Order. 

Locusta breathed deeply in and out. Her heart was still racing, and she'd started getting pins and needles in her hands. She carried on her breathing technique - she knew what that feeling meant. Soon, she'd want to cut off her hands. It would be less painful. 

The hammer being pulled back on a gun rang in her ears. Locusta would've laughed if all of her energy wasn't focused on making sure she didn't scream out in agony. "Guess you have some questions?" 

A huge swoosh interrupted, followed by a echoing thud. Locusta could see a pair of familiar feet, and she internally groaned. So she had been following the right guy after all. 

"You're late." Steve's gruff voice noted. Locusta knew he wasn't very impressed. He must have been the missing variable in their plan. 

Sam laughed. "Yeah, I got caught up in a little something." 

Locusta coughed, pulling herself to her feet. She imagined she looked an even worse state than she did before, with blood seeping out of her neck and extremely knotty hair. "Sorry about that, by the way." 

Sam did a double take. He paused. "Did something happen?" 

Steve folded his arms, staring intently at Locusta. "A lot. And she's going to let us know all about it." 

Now that the adrenaline was dying down, she didn't feel as confident. She could feel herself shrinking under the former Captain's gaze, eyes averted. Locusta just picked up her gloves and slipped them on. 

"Hello?" Steve's friend sassed, a gun cradled in her hand. That must have been what she heard before. 

Locusta took a deep breath. "I'll tell you everything but first can someone give me a needle and thread?"

Sam's gaze darted to her neck, them bulging. "Shit, what happened to you?" 

She gave him a small, exhausted smile. "Everything."

-

hey guys! this is the first time you've seen locusta in a while, and can i say i missed her with my whole heart! i hope you all enjoyed the chapter!

i am aiming to have this story updated at least every 2 weeks, with this and white dwarf being at the top of my writing priorities. i honestly can't wait to keep writing for it, i missed libertas so much! 

thank you for reading and sticking with me after so long!

-thirdwheelchurchill