•Night Angel•

SURPRISE CHAPTER LV - NOT ENOUGH

*TW: Mentions of drowning. Read at your own discretion*

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July 2008. 21:45. Stark Industries, Los Angeles. CA.

Third Person POV

Sophia was starting to panic. The water kept on flowing more rapidly by the second and all of her attempts were now futile. There was no escape and she knew it. Her efforts were not doing anything.

She was starting to think that this was actually her end. Not to be dramatic, but the water was now all the way up to her chin. There was no way she could make it out.

All of her thoughts went to Tony, her dad, Pierre, Nick, Happy, Clint and Natasha, Pepper and Michael. She thought of all the things she might never be able to tell them. Of the things she missed with them, of the time she was not going to get.

This was not how she pictured she was going to die. In the job she had, she knew that at some point, she will. It was dangerous and risky and uncertain, just like everything else. But a part of her, the one that likes to fantasize, thought it would be when she was old, and wrinkly, at her bed, beside the man she loved, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was barely 20, and she knew she had a lot to live still. Or at least she thought at some point before this moment.

Now, not to be pessimistic, but more realistic, she knew that there was no way out of this.

Suddenly, she felt as if everything she had done was not enough. Professionally and personally.

It was not enough the times she said "I love you" to her dad. It was not enough when she told Tony how lucky she was to have him and how she loved him infinity. It was not enough the time she had with Pepper, or the time she had with Happy.

It was not enough the times she told Clint and Natasha that she loved them as family, or the times she thanked Pierre for protecting her and teaching her.

And last but not least, it was not enough, the time she had to accept Nick's apology. Or thank him for everything he had done for her since day 1.

Michael. She didn't get to tell him she forgave him. Because despite everything, she did. She loved him and she forgave him. She realized now.

But as the water started to rise more and more, and Sophia started to lose space to breathe, she realized that everything she had done was not enough.

As she swimmed to the top, with just barely two inches left of space, she took a deep breath.

Sophia was not scared to die. She never was. With what she did, she knew she had to be prepared in case it happened. They train you and tell you to be prepared. Of course, they train you perfectly so you don't. But in case it did, Sophia then knew she was not ready.

And more than being ready or not, she didn't want to die. Not now, not soon. She still had so much more to live for. People to live for.

As air started to disappear and water started to cover her completely, she said goodbye to everyone in her head. She bid goodbye to her father, who would probably have a stroke if he found out. He would be losing his second best thing, he would be alone now. To Pierre, who would mourn for her like his own daughter. Clint and Natasha, who would probably just try and train and go on missions, fighting in her honour, distracting themselves from the pain. Pepper, who would probably cry her eyes out for days. Happy, who may not smile a lot like he used to when she was around.

Nick would make it seem like he was fine, when in reality he would be sadder than he ever was. Phil wouldn't try to hide his pain, but also would try and make himself tough.

Michael, who would probably be shattered and would feel some sort of guilt for what he did, without knowing Sophia had forgiven him. A part of his heart dying with her.

And Tony. Maybe the most painful for Sophia to think about. He would be devastated. Broken in some many pieces, it would be a challenge to pick them back up. He had lost his mother and father and took refuge in his little sister, who he thought he would always have by his side.

But life apart from being beautiful. Is also cruel. Death didn't care who she took.

Sophia bid goodbye to everyone she loves.

Maybe it was consolation, when she thought about her mother. Maybe after all of this, she would be able to reunite with her, wherever death decided to take her. The warm smile of Victoire Dumont made an appearance in Sophia's mind. The warmth of her embrace every time she gave her a hug.

Oh, how much Sophia missed her mother's hugs.

How she would read to her, her favourite bedtime stories, or how she would brush her hair before bed. When they would just dance around the house to ABBA playing in the speakers. How they would go outside when it was autumn and they would play in the leaves.

Or when it was winter and they would go outside, building snowmen and having snow fights.

She missed just being nuzzled in her mother's chest as she sang to her, her favourite songs in french and caressing her hair, slowly. She missed her mother.

Maybe death was not going to be so bad after all if it meant she would get to reunite with her mum.

Water now fully filled the tank she was in. With the air she had saved, she knew she had no more than a few minutes, due to her training. But she knew that it wouldn't be enough.

She had hope that Tony was looking for her. And Michael and Nick.

But she also knew that it was impossible for them to know where she was. There was no time for her to leave them clues, or something telling them where to look for. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Truth is, Sophia herself didn't even know where she was.

If this was her last minutes of life, she would die okay knowing that Tony never gave up on finding her. She knew it, she could feel it.

It was painful to leave them all, to leave him. She didn't want to, but at this point, there was not much to be done. No matter how hard she tried. She felt sorry she was leaving them so soon.

The air in her lungs was now gone and Sophia slowly started to lose consciousness. Her body started to spasm and her mind slowly went blank.

Her last thought on her mind before leaving was just one.

Forgive me, everyone. Je t'aime. 

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SURPRISE CHAPTER! 

So, kind of a short one, but I wanted to give a little insight as to what our beautiful Sophie's been thinking ever since she was pushed into the tank by evil fat Santa.

Do you think Tony is going to find her in time? Or will it be Michael?

My heart shatters everytime I re-read everything I've put her through. Once again, I'm going to hell:) (Also this may or may not be one of the last chapters, but I'm not going to tell you what sort of  last chapters {Maybe from the book? Idk.}) *Laughs evily*

Let me know in the comments what you think!

Lots of love!