Simsalabim // T. Stark

II

Trigger warning (see comment next to this text, warning spoilers for chapter) 

"Amelia? Are you in here?"

Tony's voice echoes through the halls inside her backpack. The man was leaning in, holding the rest of his body up outside with his hands.

"Hocus Pocus?"

The man frowns at the lack of answer. He remembers Amelia telling him about her suitcase. It had been enchanted to enhance the sounds from the outside. So why wasn't Amelia hearing him? He turns around before climbing down, groaning at the pop his knees give at the sudden movement. With an order to jarvis, Tony calls for a hand thruster from his suit to come to him. He trusted Amelia, but he didn't trust magic. With a light shove Tony opens the main door into the apartment inside the case.

"Amelia?" He calls out hesitantly, lengthening the name in question. 

There wasn't anything odd in the room, apart from the fact that everything was magical and odd. He spots dishes in the sink being magically washed in the air. The fireplace was unlit, meaning it hasn't been used in a while. An abandoned cup of the on stands on the small table by the sofa, smelling of tea. He hovers his hand above it and notices it's still relatively warm and full. Amelia had to still be inside. 

"Bruce made dinner tonight. I know it isn't Friday but I thought you wouldn't pass on a free meal, especially if the green giant made it."

Without respons, he tries to decide if it would be a breach of privacy for him to continue snooping around and looking for her. They hadn't seen each other much after what he liked to call the 'couch happening'. Similar situations had happened before, but this time Amelia was the reason why they pulled away. Maybe she's just avoiding him. It would explain why her cup would suddenly be abandoned and he couldn't find her. He moves back to the entrance but stops as he hears a crash sound in the background.

He walks to what he knows to be her bedroom and linked bathroom, putting his ear against the door. Nothing alerts his ears so he knocks on it.

"Amelia? Are you in here? I'm yelling so you know I'm not a creepy stalker."

Not getting a reaction he opens the door, laying eyes on the empty room. He throws open the door to the bathroom too, with the same result. He goes on like that, checking every room. Room after room come out empty. Tony's pace becomes faster and more urgent. Since when are there that many rooms in the 'apartment'? 

He stops in an hallway when he hears a faint sound from the room at the end of it. With hesitant steps he walks towards it. The door was partly standing open.

"Lia?" He asks while opening the door slowly. But nothing could have prepared him for the side in front of him.

He found the witch hunched over a still figure laying on the ground, hands grabbing onto the person like a lifeline. As he steps closer Tony notices the blood surrounding the figure. He hurries his pace towards them.

"Amelia?! What happened? Who is that? Why didn't you call for help?" He doesn't get a reaction, but can suspect the unknown person to be important as he spots the trail of tears running down Amelia's cheeks.

"-I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry-"

He faintly hears her whisper. Crouching down beside her, he inspects the obviously hurt woman Amelia was crying over. It was the first time Tony had ever seen her cry.

"What happened?!" Tony asks her again, but neither of the figures reply. One of them for obvious reasons as she soullessly stares at the ceiling, unseeing. The woman reminded Tony of someone, but he can't lay his finger on it. Amelia appears to be in shock, only whispering as she sobs over the woman.